We are making our way through Hebrews and the list of the faithful from the Old Testament. This morning, we look at Abraham but because the purpose of these faithful
folks is to be an example to us, I want us to approach this in how his faith is to be our faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9
By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.10
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Charles Simeon was a great preacher in England toward the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. His biography had a great impact
on my own life as a minister. Simeon was riding on his horse one day in the company of James Haldane, one of two brothers who were instrumental in being used to lead revivals in Switzerland, France and Germany.
Simeon paid a visit to the parish minister of a certain town as was his custom, a Rev. Alexander Stewart. Stewart was a very smart man and he preached a very high
morality, and held in some ways to certain Christian doctrines, yet, he was not converted, he had no living faith in Jesus, it was just a job.
Simeon was invited to stay at the manse and preach the following Sunday and then late on the Sabbath evening Mr. Stewart came to visit and Simeon led him to true faith
in Christ. Stewart’s preaching immediately changed and some in the congregation changed as well, and many repented shortly after their own pastor. nOne of those couples later said, “they owed their own selves” to their now converted pastor were the parents
of Alexander Duff, one of the greatest missionaries to ever come out of Scotland.
So, follow the bouncing ball: a vacationing minister whose words God uses to convert a village pastor, through whose now lively and faithful preaching of the gospel,
a couple is converted who then raise their son in the faith and he becomes one of the Christian church’s great missionaries. And here is the catch, God had Alexander Duff, the missionary to India, as well as all he led to put their faith in Christ in His mind,
in His divine heart, the day he sent Simeon riding into that small country village.
It is just the same with Abraham. When Abraham was called, man was in rebellion against God. But it is also true that all of man’s rebellion, even that which causes
God to grieve is part of the divine plan and purpose for the world, as little as we might comprehend how, how He does all of that, it is undoubtedly the truth.
God’s sovereignty, as illustrated in the genealogies, concentrates its attention on those people finally leading to Abraham. But before we get to that, we need to
again marvel at the awesome character of our God, this One who knows the future and has planned the future.
History unfolds according to that plan, and every individual’s history has a part of it. Even the free acts, even the sinful acts of human beings are part of that
plan. We spoke to this last week and it comes with a severe warning that we do not think to take advantage of this…we may NOT go on sinning that grace may abound.
Every name in the genealogy, every life, planned out by God for his purpose and then to watch it flow into the calling of Abraham, only illustrates once again, the
Sovereign power of our God.
The unbeliever deeply resents this Christian teaching, as do, sadly enough many Christians. I have found over the years that this is a teaching that brings the greatest
amount of freedom, joy and peace to the Christian’s life, even though I have barely begun to understand its depths.
I find peace that God has me in His hand as well as my children and grandchildren and the more I get to know God, the more comfort and peace is had, as I rest in this
mystery. And ‘rest’ is the right word. Confessing and embracing God’s sovereignty has a dark side as well. Trusting the Lord means, trusting him with the pain, suffering and difficulty that He does not take away.
Living in faith means that we trust the Lord when He visits us with the consequences of our actions…and they, the consequences…endure…they do not go away…pray as you
might. And yet, if you really trust Him…you humbly receive the consequences, endure the pain…and yes…you are at rest.
As we look at a world that seems at times to be spinning helplessly out of control, we are brought up short, even confused at times, so much around us doesn’t make
sense to us, and to say that our God is in control and has called this to be as it is for His glory and for his own purpose…cannot be used as a Christian platitude but must be a reality, an experience that we step into. If that is not true…then how would you
cope?
God calls Abraham and he leaves his home in Ur and then in Haran to journey to Canaan. Abraham becomes the great patriarch of biblical history and what is more, the
great exemplar of faith and of salvation by faith and of the life of faith. We know more of his life than anyone else in biblical history with perhaps the exceptions of Moses, David, Paul and the Lord Jesus Himself.
He will be called the “friend of God”, and the “father of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus said, in a comment that was quite striking
that Abraham was a believer in him. “Abraham rejoiced to see my day, he saw it and was glad.” Paul will use Abraham’s life story as his crowning demonstration that men are made right with God only by faith in Jesus and as the author of Hebrews will
use Abraham as an example of what it means to live by faith and to be a pilgrim in this world.
Indeed, throughout the rest of our bible, God will refer to Himself simply as, “The God of Abraham.”
Prayer: Father, for faith and endurance to persevere in the face of trial, suffering and sorrow, I humbly ask. To continue to fight against indwelling sin that
brings much grief to my life, I pray. To humbly embrace whatever You send for the testing of my faith, that it may be pure and that I might be faithful, Father for this I submit myself to You and Your wisdom, through Jesus Christ my Lord, Amen.
Hymn: My Song is Love Unknown.