Hebrews 11:8-10

Last Sunday, Norma Jean and I visited the church at Cosby, Tennessee, and enjoyed hearing our friend, 92-year old Olie Williamson, teach the Bible class and preach at the worship service.

Most of the class was centered around the text found in Hebrews 11:8-10.

Olie documented God’s call of Abraham in Gen 12:1-3 to leave his father’s house, his homeland and go into a land that God would show him. The Bible says, “And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8).

Why? Because Abraham had faith in God.

As an interesting side note, ones wonders how, when and where Abraham developed his faith. His father, Terah, as Olie observed, “served other gods” (Gen. 11:27; Josh. 24:2). While it’s definitely helpful to have God-fearing parents, it’s possible for someone from an idolatrous or non-religious background to become a Believer and grow a great faith.

God promised to bless Abraham. Make his name great. Produce from his descendants a great name. Give them a land. And from his seed would come One who would bless the entire world. What makes this so amazing is at that time Abraham is unknown, obscure and childless. Oh, and he is 75 years old.

Yet, the Hebrew writer’s account says, “he obeyed.” “Went.” “Dwelt.” “Waited.” And “offered.” Abraham’s life reminds us that faith is active. Not passive.

E. M. Bounds was right when he wrote: “Faith is not an abstract belief in the word of God, nor a mere mental credence, not simple assent of the understanding and the will; nor is it a passive acceptance of facts.” Rather, as one of my favorite authors, anonymous, expressed it, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.”

It would be 25 years before Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah. During those years so much happened. There was a dispute between the herdsman of Abraham and his nephew Lot. And so they separated. Later Lot was captured and then rescued by Abraham.

While waiting, God renews the covenant. But Sarah, showing her impatience, intervenes, and gave Abraham her maidservant, Hagar, to conceive a son. As a result, Ishmael was born. But he was not the child of promise.

Twice during these years, we read how Abraham, fearing for his life, lied about Sarah being his wife and said, “she is my sister.” (Gen 12:11-13; Gen 20:2).

When Abraham is 99, God again appears and gives him a sign of His covenant through the rite of circumcision. We recall how Sarah laughed at the thought of bearing a child in her old age (Gen 18:12). But the Bible says that Abraham also laughed at the idea (Gen. 17:17).

Throughout these 25 years, Abraham had his share of challenges. Like us, he was not a perfect person. He was not sinless. But God used him, knowing he had a good heart and could become the person He needed him to be. Our journey of faith will also encounter problems and pitfalls. But, like Abraham, our faith can grow, mature and be strengthened.

The ultimate test of Abraham’s faith came when God commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering in worship to God. While this may have seemed contradictory to God’s promise, by now Abraham’s faith was so strong that he didn’t doubt what God could do.

As they journeyed toward the place of sacrifice, he told the servant “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” (Gen 22:5). See that? “We will come back.”

When Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham replied, “God will provide.”

What was Abraham thinking? The Hebrew writer offers some insight. “He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead” (Heb. 11:19). Of course, Isaac wasn’t offered. It was a test. And Abraham passed the test.

Reflecting on this text and lesson reminds us of three important points.

(1) Your faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6). It shows that you trust Him. Expect him to provide. Believe in His promises. And that you rely on His power.

(2) Your faith is perfected by works. (Jas. 2:14-26). “Faith without works is dead.” Like Abraham, our faith must be active. It must be demonstrated and is made complete by our works. Faith works.

(3) Your faith provides hope. Our hope is the anchor of the soul. And faith is the foundation of our hope (Heb. 11:1;6:19). J. Oswald Sanders put it perfectly: “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

Through the Word, God calls us today to accept Jesus Christ as His Son. To obey him. To serve Him. And to follow Him.

Will you, like Abraham, hear and heed the call to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2Cor. 5:7)?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman