What enabled Abraham to journey on when the road he was taking took some very unusual turns – like leaving the security of Haran, being promised to be the founder of a great nation while not yet having any children and then when he finally has a son in his old age, he is commanded to sacrifice him on Mt. Moriah?
What enabled Abraham to step out in obedience to God on this unknown journey?
“By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (Hebrews 11: 8-11)
So it was faith that inspired Abraham to obey God!
Well, how would we describe this faith?
Perhaps what I should do first is to say there is a lot of misunderstanding about what it means to live by faith in God. Living by faith in God does not mean that bad things will never happen in your life and that bad things have come your way because you haven’t trusted God enough. It does not mean God will instantly give you healing, or rescue and save you from accidents and illness. It doesn’t mean when someone suffers from illness of any kind, that it is because they have a lack of faith. Living by faith in God doesn’t mean you will never experience any of the many calamities we face today as Christians. This kind of misunderstanding about faith heaps added burdens, guilt and despondency on those who are suffering. They blame themselves for “lack of faith”.
So, what does the Bible mean when it said, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
When Abraham and Sarah packed up and together with their flocks and tents set off into the unknown; they went on a trip of faith. Faith was putting themselves into the hands of God, willing to go on a journey into the unknown, trusting that wherever God would lead them, He would be there to help them. Their faith trusted God to help them through any anxiety or uncertainty.
Even though they trusted God, they still faced all kinds of difficulties. Their troubles didn’t magically fade away; they made mistakes. But they kept on the journey, they trusted the God who had spoken to them and given them a promise and his reassurance. In faith they believed that God would not let them down. They believed and trusted that God’s wisdom was far greater than theirs and as a result they received and became all that God promised them.
It is very similar in the Gospels for the apostles. Paul’s experiences are typical. Paul endured all kinds of hardships, persecutions, sickness, and seemingly faith shattering obstacles as an apostle for Christ. No doubt these were difficult to endure but in the end Paul praises God for the hardships that had come his way. He writes to the Romans, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5: 3-5)
I do not believe things are any different for us compared to Abraham or to the disciples.
Faith is going on a wonderful trip with Christ Jesus, not certain where it will lead us, but sure that in Christ’s company things will work together for good. There will be those times on our journey of life when our faith will seem to be inadequate; when our understanding of God’s love in difficult times is shaky; when we can’t see where the road ahead is leading us; when all we can focus on is the pain and grief and not see the giant arms of Jesus embracing us and holding us up.
It is by stepping out on the road with that little, scrappy yet precious faith that we do possess, that we will find the greater faith that Abraham demonstrated and for which we all long. The challenges and tribulations of our life’s journey should not deter us from forging ahead in faith.
Like Abraham, we do not know where the road ahead will lead and what detours and crossroads we will encounter, but from heaven we will be able to look back and see that because of the gift of faith given us, Christ was with us during our whole life’s journey, guiding and carrying us through the rough sections of the journey just as He was with Abraham on the journey of faith He sent him on.
And we should thank God for Abraham’s faith and obedience. He was told he would be a blessing to all nations.
Christianity is the fruit of that blessing, and our gift of faith for our life’s journey comes as a result of Abraham’s willingness to journey on in faith with God.
Blessings!
Rev. Terry Goerz,
Redeemer Lutheran Church.