“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. And he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘That in Isaac shall your seed be called,’ accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead—from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Hebrews 11:17-19
When it comes to faith vs. reason, faith should always win out because of the One in Whom we’re trusting.
Quite often we call “saving” faith “blind” faith, likening it to “a leap in the dark” and not knowing where we’ll end up. However, true, saving/pleasing faith is always confident of “Who God is and rests in the assurance that He is a Rewarder of them who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
This will require simple faith, but also an unwavering faith.
And, this must be a bedrock faith that says “I know in Whom I have believed and am convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt that He Who began a good work in me will continue to perform it until the Day I see Jesus face-to-Face” (Phil. 1:6; II Tim. 1:12).
The Scriptures are clear when they say “Abraham believed God and it was accounted unto him for righteousness” (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; James 2:23). Simply put, he took God at His Word. . .knowing He “will not/cannot lie” (Heb. 6:18). . .and was willing to “offer up Isaac” as a sacrifice upon Mt. Moriah (Gen. 22:1-18).
He didn’t understand why God asked him to do it; neither did he know the angel of the Lord would tell him to stop from plunging the knife into his bound son on the altar (Gen. 22:11-12). And, even though his human, fatherly instincts were reacting violently within him, his faith in God’s faithfulness led him to obey in simple surrender.
Yet, we also read that Abraham had already used reason to further flesh out his faith. The Lord God has promised him that He would “establish His covenant with Isaac as an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him” (Gen. 17:19, 21). And, if Isaac were dead, how could this covenant-promise be fulfilled?? Glory!!
Just as faith placed him on the assets’ column of God’s eternal Ledger, so did Abraham say “God is able to raise Isaac from the dead even if I slay him. In fact, not only is He ‘able,’ He WILL raise him from the dead because He has said ‘THROUGH ISAAC will all nations be blessed’.” Hallelujah!!
Dear Pilgrim, so often our faith is little more than wishful thinking or a “pie-in-the-sky-by-and-by,” whistling-in-the-dark, “hope-so” faith. It’s like a young boy with a toy bow shooting a tiny arrow into the sky, HOPING he’ll hit something, but knowing inwardly it’s not likely.
True, Resurrection Faith is blessed assurance in God and His unfailing Promises. It’s simplistic and implicit faith. It’s also a tenacious and triumphant faith. May the Holy Spirit help us today to be “bold believers” in everything (Heb. 4:16; 10:19). Then, may we attempt things that can only be accomplished by God so He’ll get all the Glory.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated March 31, 2011
