When we read about Abraham’s faith in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews (Chapter 11), it’s incredibly inspiring to think of the belief he displayed. He left the land of his people and followed the Lord’s calling on his life; he went to the land that God would give to his descendants, the nation of Israel. Abraham believed God to do unbelievably miraculous things. Genesis 15:6 says that “[Abraham] believed the Lord and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
I often wonder what I would have done if I had been in his shoes. It can be easy to read Hebrews 11 and forget what Abraham’s faith looked like in a real-life. In a practically lived-out sense. I can wrongly think that Abraham’s faith was a flawless, unattainable faith with no doubts in it. However, when I was reading through Genesis recently, I was struck by something in Abraham’s interaction with the Lord.
Abraham (as a member of the “Hall of Faith”) is a great example of what it looks like to position ourselves to receive the words of God. He’s also an example of humbly bringing our questions, doubts and concerns before the Lord for His help.
Look at these two verses:
“But [Abraham] said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” — Genesis 15:8
“Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. ‘And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?’” — Genesis 17:17
Abraham seemed to have no problem grappling with disbelief or questions concerning what God was promising Him. And how did the Lord respond? He was patient with Abraham and reconfirmed the promise. How beautiful is that?!
What does it look like to you to “have more faith”? Is it sitting quietly (and begrudgingly), swallowing the pill that is life, whether you like it or not? Does having more faith mean that God wants you to blindly follow Him while suppressing your feelings? Were you taught that God would be angry with you if you dared to question Him?
God is not threatened by the disbelief we work through. He is not scared of our questions or our need for clarification. Our Lord is a living God of active relationship. He is a personal God who opens Himself up for us to bring all of our struggles and disbeliefs to Him. He invites us to wrestle it out with Him. We need to acknowledge that He is God and we are not — that we need His help to understand His good plan.
Many times, growing in faith is a one-step-at-a-time walk. Today, may we humbly rely on God’s good grace to believe His promises for us.
Posted in A Word from the Pastor