Good to have you back.
Yesterday we started looking at this awesome couple whose display of faith leaves me speechless. The test of their faith started at their old age. This goes to show we can never outgrow faith tests.
We started talking about this couple yesterday. Please click here so you can get a better picture of their journey.
At age 75, Abraham was promised by God that he will be a father of great nation (Genesis 12:2). Ten years later this elderly man and his wife are still waiting on God for this miracle to happen. You would think that considering their age, God will perform the miracle soon after the promise. However, God shows again that time is in His hands and He does as He pleases. They became impatient and took matters into their hands (Genesis 16). They tried to help God out by having a child through Hagar who was their maid. The result led to the current problem between the Arab nations and the Jews and christians today. You see, most of the trouble we face today, are things we caused due to impatience. When we go outside God’s will, we can never find peace. This decision also led to this couple having a big fight in their marriage.
Abraham is now 99 years old and God appears to him again; not to fulfil His promise but to tell him to be righteous and blameless before Him. How frustrating would that have been? You’ve been waiting on something for years and finally God appears to you. In my mind I would be expecting to receive my answers in that particular encounter. In our wait, God still requires faithfulness from us. So it really isn’t about us waiting, it is how we are waiting. God again re-emphasizes His promise to Abraham. Him and his wife began having doubts about this promise (chapter 17:17-18; 18:12).
If you read the whole account of Abraham, you will discover that Abraham and Sarah weren’t perfect. He lied that Sarah was his sister (Genesis 20:2). He committed adultery with the help of his wife (Genesis 16:4). Him and his wife had a moment of unbelief (chapter 17:17-18; 18:12). He went against God’s instruction by having concubines after Sarah passed (Genesis 25:6). But yet, he is regarded as the friend of God. I’m hoping we can take comfort in this. That though we sin, we can find forgiveness if we confess and repent.
Abraham and Sarah cuddled their promised son after 25 years of waiting. Can you relate? I sure can. I am currently trusting God for something and I honestly don’t wake up everyday strong. Some days I have great faith, little faith and no faith. There are days when I am strong and days when I am weak. However, I want to be able to rise after each fall just like Abraham.
Their test of faith didn’t just end here. They were yet to face another. God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him. Not sure if he told Sarah about this. But he obeyed. What amazes me is the speed at which he went ahead to carry out the sacrifice the next day (Genesis 22:1-10). If I was the one, I would want some confirmation. I would contact some spiritual friends just so they can join me in prayers. I would want to double check that this wasn’t the devil speaking and to be honest, I will pray and convince myself out of doing this. Jesus said in John 10:27, that His sheep hears His voice. It’s very important to know when God is speaking.
Abraham felt that if he sacrificed Isaac, God could bring him back to life (Hebrews 11:19). The fact that he was willing to sacrifice his only child just because God said so blows my mind. How extreme are we willing to go for God? Isaac represents what Abraham loved most. What is that thing that we love most that we aren’t willing to lay on the altar for God. And just in case you don’t know the full story, God provided a lamb for the sacrifice like Abraham told Isaac (Genesis 22:8).
Abraham and Sarah were human. They had seasons of great faith and doubt. However, they never remained in doubt. Are you currently in fear and doubt? Is God taking too long? Are you tired of hearing that same prophecy that doesn’t seem like it’s ever going to come to pass? Are you tired of hearing “God will do it?” Hold on my friend. God’s ways aren’t our ways. He will come through in due time.
I love these verses in Hebrews 11.
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
So my decisions are;
- Not to go ahead of God. To understand and accept that although God’s time may not always look like mine, He is perfect and always right on time
- To ensure I am always in tune with God so I don’t suggest things that will make my husband and anyone connected to me make mistakes
- To rise after every fall
What are your decisions? Let me know in the comment section below.
Abraham’s faith outlived him. Tomorrow we will see how his son walked by faith too. Could it be that this was made possible because of the life Isaac saw his parents live? The saying that kids learn faster by examples from their parents might have a role to play here.
Remember to come back tomorrow as we look at Isaac; another hero of faith.
Also please check out the other topics in this series.
God bless you!
-Efua is a mentor and blogger. You can read more from her on her blog Grace Over Pain.