The Faith Of Our Fathers

-June 17, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“But Issac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.”

(Genesis 22:7-8).

Fatherhood isn’t easy. There in no training course, just on the job training. Fathers who know and trust the Lord make the best fathers. Abraham was the greatest and oldest father in the Bible. Sarah bore Issac at the age of 90, when Abraham was 100. Isaac was the promised son, and now in Genesis 22, God is putting his faith to the test: offering up Issac as a burnt offering. And what a test it was!

Abraham didn’t know it was a test. He did what God asked him to do. God stopped him right before he killed his beloved son. Life has many tests, and through them God strengthens and grows our faith. Abraham put his faith into practice and left the consequences to God. James wrote in James 2:17, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

True saving faith results in works that back it up. This was true of Abraham the father of our faith. His faith was activated, demonstrated, and rewarded. Each time we step out in faith, God leads us and provides for us. James used Abraham and Rahab as examples of this. God rewarded their faith with life and blessings.

Fathers, like all of us, need faith to do God’s will even when it doesn’t seem rational, plausible, or even possible. Soldiers, athletes, firefighters, police officers, and others receive the best training but never know how they will perform until they have to use it in the real world. God trains us in His ways, over time, to prove our faith. Abraham never questioned or debated with God. He knew that God would provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. He believed that even if he killed his son, God would raise him from the dead.

May God help us to have a faith that works in the real world, when troubles, trials, and difficulties come. Fathers are leaders, they teach, train, and support their kids. The hymn writer wrote, “Faith of fathers, living still in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword, O how our hearts beat high with joy when-e’er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith, we will be true to thee ‘til death.”

Have a blessed day walking by faith. Stay safe and healthy. Being thankful for our faithful fathers to faithfully follow their examples.

Dean