The next lesson we will learn from the life of Abraham. There are too many things we can learn from his life. But I want to focus only on one area today.
Abraham is the father of all who believe or who have Faith. (Rom.4: 16)
Heb.11: 8-9 – “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.”
Heb.11: 17-19- “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”
Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and Terah was his father. Their family was settled in Ur. He got married to Sarai (who later become Sarah) but they didn’t have any children. One day Terah told Abraham that we are going to the land of Canaan. His nephew Lot was also taken with them. But they stopped at Haran and got settled there. Terah died at Haran. Afterwards God asked Abraham to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s family, and go to the land that God will show him. Abraham departed as Lord instructed him. We know that later he inherited the land of Canaan.
One thing to be noted here is that even before God spoke to Abraham, Terah was going to Canaan. But he stopped at Haran. Why? May be he felt comfortable there or may be he got tired. When Terah started from Ur, I think his vision was to reach Canaan. But on the way he stopped and got settled in Haran.
One Lesson- do not stop before reaching where you are supposed to reach. Don’t get settled on the way. If you do then you will die on the way. Terah didn’t reach Canaan but died at Haran.
Now about Abraham we see that after God spoke to him he left Haran. Are we holding on to some Haran when God wants us to go to Canaan? It was a step of faith from Abraham. What step- leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s family, and go to the land that God will show him. Do we have the faith to do same thing if God will ask us. That’s bringing a mission challenge. If God asks us to leave everything in this country and go to a land, which he tells then what will our response be? What if he asks us to leave everything and go back to our own country as a native missionary? Let’s answer this question to God. About Abraham it is said that “And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.” Do we have a heart to do anything, which God will ask us to do, or are we trying to settle in Haran?
Now lets come to another incident in Abraham’s life. Many years later God gave him a son and later asked to sacrifice his son. Even though Isaac was not scarified but in Hebrews it says that “it was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.
I think like this- Abraham might have thought like this- “ Even if Isaac becomes ashes, I have faith that God will raise up my promises from ashes. Since God promised that “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” So I have faith that what God told me He would do.
I don’t want to write more. Let’s ask a question to ourselves- Do we have unconditional faith in God? Faith which is not based on our circumstances but which is based on the sovereignty of God.
Remember that People who belong to a Godly Generation will have unconditional Faith in their God. They will be willing to move, willing to leave things, willing to sacrifice & willing to obey God. They will have FAITH in God!
May God Bless You!
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