“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8
Dear Ones:
What brings a man to commit himself and all that he has, to something or someone, whom he has not “seen?” Though the last book in the Bible is entitled, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” we might say that the Bible in its entirety is just that, the “Revelation of Jesus Christ.” The implied reason for which Abraham would leave Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan, is that he had a personal revelation of Jesus Christ to his heart and mind. There were times when the Lord revealed Himself to Abraham in a physical manner, and it may have been so in the beginning of His dealings with Abraham. We do not see in Scripture this type of revelation at this time in Abraham’s life, only the evidence of a growing conviction in his heart that this God is the true and living God. We need to ask ourselves specifically at this point: “What does the calling of God mean, and what is to be the response of Abraham to it?” When God revealed Himself to Abraham, whether physically or otherwise, He did so specifically by His word, His promises and commandments. It is as Abraham responds in faith and obedience to the revelation of God according His word, that He proves the God who has given him the promises. The fruit of such obedient faith is the increasing revelation of God to the heart. But what was the key to Abraham’s life of faith, that enabled him to not only know and receive the promises, but to believe and ACT upon them? Abraham chose to become a worshipper of God according to the truth, a man who, thought rich, was detached from the things of earth, looking down the corridor of time into eternity.
In God’s dealings with Abraham, we find that with the calling to leave his country to go into Canaan, he was given a specific promise: “…a place…which he should receive for an inheritance.” (Heb. 11:8) In addition, the promise was given: “Thou shalt be a blessing…and in thee shall ALL the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:2,3) We find that Isaac and Jacob would later be “….heirs of the same PROMISE.” (v.9) Paul writes concerning Abraham, and this promise, “…For the PROMISE , that he should be the heir of the world…was through righteousness of faith.” (4:13) Paul goes on to speak of faith, by grace, “…to the end the PROMISE might be SURE to all the seed.” (v.16) Of what is he speaking? The Promise Maker, the Lord Jesus Christ, gave to Abraham a promise, one that would traverse the span of time to this very day, being the foundation for all people and individuals who would believe in the true and living God, the giver of eternal life. Paul goes on to say that Abraham “…staggered not at the PROMISE of God through unbelief, ” when faced with human impossibility. He would be “…fully persuaded that, what He (God) had promised, He was able also to perform.” (v.20) This Abraham, singular in his faith, with Sarah, a woman of faith at his side, will believe the God of the promise “against all hope,” because of his vision of the God of the promise. He has responded to the revelation of Christ to his heart, and he will not be deterred from the pursuit, especially as it is of eternal worth, and great in the effects of its blessing upon men.
Dear Father, give us grace, in a very real sense, to follow in Abraham’s steps, not to imitate him, but to imitate his faith in Christ. Grant us grace to pursue Thee in Thy word, trusting Thee to reveal Yourself to our hearts. Enable us to understand Your promises, to take our stand of faith in Thee according to them, believing and obeying Thee for their realization. Then we shall know Thee more, and many shall be truly blessed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad