Page 32 - The Divine Quest

The Divine Quest Page 29

faith is out of hearing.” That is, faith has its origin in hearing a word from God, and
it is from this word that faith appears. All acts of faith must have their origin in a
word from God. Some who have tried to walk in faith without such a word have
stumbled badly, and many have made a shipwreck of their lives.

Abraham heard God speak to him to leave his father’s household, and he responded
with obedience, trusting the One who commanded him to go forth. This trusting
obedience pleased God. The crowning act of Abraham’s faith was when he took his
son Isaac and laid him on an altar to sacrifice him to Yahweh. This was much later
in Abraham’s life, and it too was precipitated by a word from God.

Genesis 22:1-2
Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him,
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take now your son, your only son,
whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt
offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."

Abraham KNEW that he had heard the voice of God. He did not have to wonder,
“Does God want me to do this thing? Am I sure this is His will?” If Abraham had not
heard from God clearly, then he would have nothing for his faith to arise out of.
Because Abraham knew he had heard from God, he was able to respond with trusting
obedience. We can only exercise this same faith that Abraham walked in if we have
heard the voice of God leading us to some act of faith. If there is no hearing, there is
no faith.

In between Abraham’s call to leave his father’s house, and his testing in the matter
of his son, the Spirit has recorded for us some other events in Abraham’s life that
equally serve as instruction for the saints. Two events are particularly related to us.
Both involved Abraham leaving the land God had promised to him and dwelling for
a time in a foreign land, due to a severe drought being in the land. In both instances
Abraham walked in unbelief and suffered disgrace and shame. He was buffeted by
fear in both places, and gave into fear by asking his wife to lie about her relationship
to him.

Genesis 12:10-13
Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there,
for the famine was severe in the land. It came about when he came near to Egypt,
that he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and
when the Egyptians see you, they will say, "This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but
they will let you live. "Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me
because of you, and that I may live on account of you."