Hebrews 11:17-22

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”  He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.  By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.  By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.  By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

Faith is demonstrated through the works that we do and the words that we say.  None of us are perfect in our works or words, but there are moments in time where we have an opportunity to exercise faith in decisive moments.  The patriarchs of Israel were all flawed individuals that wavered in their faith along the way.  However, the genera trajectory of their lives led them to a place where they were able to finish well.  God is so gracious and patient with His children.  The promise of the Gospel is to cover all our failures with the blood of Christ so all that remains are our works and words of faith.

ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF GOD: Without a doubt, the most significant test Abraham faced was the call from God to sacrifice Isaac.  He was the child of promise that had been so long awaited.  God’s command contradicted everything Abraham knew about God’s promise.  The story is excruciating as we picture Abraham prepared to plunge a knife into his son’s heart.  God stopped him and provided a ram for the sacrifice just as He provided His Son, Jesus, to be the sacrifice for our sin.  Because of this passage we know that Abraham’s expectation was for God to raise Isaac from the dead.  It is interesting to consider how Abraham understood the concept of resurrection and it function in God’s redemptive plan.  The promised seed of woman to cush the head of the serpent would come through Abraham.  It will be interesting to find out more about how Abraham thought about Isaac’s role in that plan.  What we do know is that Abraham had complete confidence in the power of God to overcome even death.  A walk of faith will require an unwavering confidence in the power of God to do that which appears impossible to us.

ISAAC AND JACOB BELIEVED IN THE PROMISE OF GOD: Waiting has got to be one of the most difficult aspects of walking in faith.  Isaac and Jacob are amazing examples of waiting.  They lived and died without seeing any significant steps forward on the fulfilment of the promise.  Isaac had two sons but only Jacob was part of the promise, and he spent most of Isaac’s life running from his twin brother.  Jacob had a bunch of children from four different women, but his life ended in the land of Egypt.  Yet they both demonstrated faith in the promise by blessing their children and even grandchildren.  Too often we want to be able to see palpable progress or we begin to question and doubt.  That is not faith.  Faith is believing in the promises of God through an entire life of waiting.

JOSEPH BELIEVED IN THE PROVISION OF GOD: Joseph was the instrument God used to provide for his entire family, Egypt, and many other nations.  His administrative skills combined with God’s revelation to Him about seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine allow for this gracious provision.  It might have been easy for Joseph to think that his family’s future would be to remain in Egypt.  But that was not the promise.  Joseph believed that his family would leave Egypt and return to the land of promise.  He demonstrated that faith by leaving instructions for his bones to be taken to be buried in the promised land.  Joseph was a rich and powerful man who was the instrument of God’s provision.  Yet, he did not trust in his own influence but understood that the liberation of Israel would come by God’s provision in the future.  God’s ability to provide far exceeds our own.

APPLICATION: Trust in the supernatural power of God and demonstrate that faith by obedience.  Be patient to wait on the Lord when progress is slow or even imperceptible.  Don’t allow delays in God’s timing to facilitate doubt or discouragement.  Rely on the provision of God instead of falling into the trap of self-sufficiency.