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April 10, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment." Genesis 18:19
It is always challenging to read how God worked through ordinary men in the days of the prophets and apostles. Especially when you keep in mind the circumstances that surrounded their lives. It makes their encounters with God all the more amazing. The verse before us concerns Abraham, that great man of faith who walked with God and was called a friend of God. God said, "I know him." Let's look at one incident in his life.
Abraham came from a family and country that were idolatrous. There was nothing spectacular in Abraham's life that would attract man, much less God. But in His providence, "God chose Abraham." He had a plan and purpose for Abraham like He had for no other. Through Abraham, all the nations of the earth were to be blessed. His seed would be as "the sand of the sea." Through him the seed of the promised Messiah was to come. Before God begins to initiate His plan, God reveals Himself to Abraham as "El Shaddai," Almighty God. He is the One who nourishes, the strength giver, the satisfier who pours Himself into believing lives. The One ever faithful who makes our lives fruitful. This was very important to Abraham. God wants to establish in Abraham's heart the right concept of who He is.
Immediately afterward, God says to Abraham concerning Sarah, "I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her." Can you imagine the consternation of Abraham? "Lord, I'm 75 years old and Sarah..." "Yes, I know how old both of you are, but I'm going to give you a son." What do you think Sarah's reaction was when he told her? "Abraham, have you lost your mind?" I'm sure when the word got around, everybody was asking Abraham, "Where is this promised son, Abe? You know you and Sarah are rather old. How long will it be before your son is born?"
With a gleam in his eye, he would answer, "Do you see those hills? One day they are going to belong to my descendants." "But Abe, you don't have any children. How can you say such a thing?" "True, but God has promised me a son, and we believe God that it shall be even as it was told us."
Abraham had a "futuristic faith." He took God at His word and believed Him with unreserved faith. God had said that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed, and it could only happen through the birth of a son given to him by God. Abraham had a biblical faith that dared to launch out into uncharted waters and believe the impossible. God had said of Abraham, "For I know him." Wow! What a testimony! Does God look at your life and mine and know us in such a way? Does He see us as ones He can trust to stand faithfully amid the swirling waves of doubt, criticism, and abuse by an unbelieving world? Can He see us "daring to believe" and taking Him at His word, going forth into "adventures of faith" for His glory? Abraham believed God when he could not see any evidence to encourage him. May He find each of us with hungry hearts and responsive spirits, ready to answer even as Isaiah did, "Here am I Lord; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-04-10
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