Monday, January 3, 2011
Andy Taylor - Abraham's Stepping-Out Faith
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
There is much to be learned about faith by reading Hebrews, chapter 11. One of the interesting things is how Abraham responded to the testing of God. The Bible states that, “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness”. Abraham actually demonstrated God’s plan for faith four hundred and thirty years before the law was instituted. As we have discussed in previous letters,(See Trinity Fellowship - Andy Taylor's Page) Abraham had to do some extreme things to be obedient to God’s plan for him. He was asked by God to leave his country, his family and his father’s house (his generational influence). That would be an incredible test for anyone! But he wavered not. And the Word records yet another amazing thing that Abraham did that defies logic and conventional thinking. The Bible says that, “he went out not knowing where he was going.” Was it not enough for the Lord to require Abraham to leave virtually everything familiar and important to him behind? Couldn’t God at least tell Abraham where they were going? Apparently not!
Why would God be so vague and secretive to a person as obedient and devoted to Him as Abraham was? Well, the Lord knows the beginning from the end. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. God, in His wisdom, knows the frailties and weakness of human flesh. He knows that if He reveals to us the destination, or destiny, of our lives that we’ll try to find that destination by our own devices and get hopelessly lost doing so. It’s the way of the flesh. We are always trying to figure things out with our own minds.
If God had told Abraham the specifics of what his life would hold or if He had told Him where the ‘two of them’ were going Abraham would be like us. He’d try, by his own devices to get there. When we look at it that way it is obvious why God would not reveal where they were going. God had a plan. His plan was to have a family that would be the object of His blessing and His love. Abraham was to be the ‘father’ of that family. Since Abraham didn’t know the exact destination (destiny) He would have to totally depend on God for directions and that’s just the way God wants it….for Abraham and for you and I
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8
There is much to be learned about faith by reading Hebrews, chapter 11. One of the interesting things is how Abraham responded to the testing of God. The Bible states that, “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness”. Abraham actually demonstrated God’s plan for faith four hundred and thirty years before the law was instituted. As we have discussed in previous letters,(See Trinity Fellowship - Andy Taylor's Page) Abraham had to do some extreme things to be obedient to God’s plan for him. He was asked by God to leave his country, his family and his father’s house (his generational influence). That would be an incredible test for anyone! But he wavered not. And the Word records yet another amazing thing that Abraham did that defies logic and conventional thinking. The Bible says that, “he went out not knowing where he was going.” Was it not enough for the Lord to require Abraham to leave virtually everything familiar and important to him behind? Couldn’t God at least tell Abraham where they were going? Apparently not!
Why would God be so vague and secretive to a person as obedient and devoted to Him as Abraham was? Well, the Lord knows the beginning from the end. He’s the author and finisher of our faith. God, in His wisdom, knows the frailties and weakness of human flesh. He knows that if He reveals to us the destination, or destiny, of our lives that we’ll try to find that destination by our own devices and get hopelessly lost doing so. It’s the way of the flesh. We are always trying to figure things out with our own minds.
If God had told Abraham the specifics of what his life would hold or if He had told Him where the ‘two of them’ were going Abraham would be like us. He’d try, by his own devices to get there. When we look at it that way it is obvious why God would not reveal where they were going. God had a plan. His plan was to have a family that would be the object of His blessing and His love. Abraham was to be the ‘father’ of that family. Since Abraham didn’t know the exact destination (destiny) He would have to totally depend on God for directions and that’s just the way God wants it….for Abraham and for you and I
Labels: Believe, Called, Faith, Logic, righteousness
posted by Todd # 8:37 PM 
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