The Eyes of Faith, Hebrews 11:17-22

^{Hebrews 11:17-22}
 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  ¹⁸ of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

A simple outline for those few verses might look like this:

1.    Faith is tested

2.    Faith trusts

3.    Faith blesses

4.    Faith looks beyond the grave

5.    Faith grows

6.    Faith worships

7.    Faith instructs

1.    Faith is tested

Abraham was promised a son, a whole nation of sons, but after nearly 25 years of trying, he and Sarah still had none (unless you count about 14 years prior when Abe slept with the maid and had Hagar’s boy, Ishmael).

But God said Ishmael was not the one, but Isaac, born of Sarah, was the son of the promise. (Gen. 17:20-21).

Abe was 100. Sarah was 90 years barren...

Until she wasn’t.

Wow!

How?

God said so.

And so did they.

God changed their names:

Abram to Abraham (exalted father to father of nations).

Sarai to Sarah (my princess to princess). From possession to position.

They started speaking faith, and nine months later...

Barren Sarah became bearing Sarah.

 Isaac came just as God had said.

Speak faith.

Speak God’s Word, not the world’s.

Bear God’s Word, birth God’s Word, through your mouth.

Call your self who God calls you. A child of the King. A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people. John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:9.     

Speak faith and watch it grow.

So, Isaac grew into a young man, perhaps around 25 years old.

All was well.

Until God sent a test.

God asked Abe to offer his son, his only beloved son called Isaac, as a burnt offering. Genesis 22:1-18.

2. Faith trusts

Would you do what Abe did?

Trust and obey, even if it meant killing your future, your hope, your God given promise... your son???  

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Amazing faith.

Even more amazing. Abe believed that God believed that Abe was worthy to receive.

He didn’t think, I messed up so bad, God’s kicking me to the curb. I knew it. He’s taking back the promise. I don’t blame Him for finding somebody better.

Do you sabotage yourself? 

God is able. Sure. Just not through me. I’m too much of a screw up.

Dear child of God, don’t doubt God’s ability to turn an old chunk of coal into a diamond.

Don’t disgrace His amazing grace to save a wretch like we.

When you are tested, receive the test for what it is. Proof that you’re loved and an opportunity for promotion.

Proof that you’re loved:

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction; ¹² For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Opportunity for promotion:

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

See with the eyes of faith that God has you in such a time and place to fulfill His exceedingly great and precious promises through you.

You are in the middle of a mission field, don’t hesitate and hide, be bold, stand up, lean in, speak faith and watch God arise and His enemies scatter.

Oh, and as for Abraham sacrificing Isaac, God stopped him and provided a ram instead of Isaac. Foreshadowing what would take place about 2,000 years later, on that very same mount, where the Son of God became the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

3.    Faith blesses

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

Isaac was blind, his sons were a mess, Jacob was a cheater, Esau was fleshly, led by his belly, a good hunter and cook and dad’s favorite. (Gen. 27-28).

But God revealed that Jacob was the one to carry the promise of Abraham.

By faith Isaac put aside his own plans, ideas, desires and looked beyond his blindness to the plan of God for his sons.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau by speaking the Truth, even though it angered Esau.

Many years later, by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed Joseph’s sons.

By faith Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, blessed each of his twelve sons, and additionally, Joseph’s two sons (Jacob’s grandsons).

To some of the sons, the blessing may have sounded more like a curse.

However, these blessings could only be given by faith, for they told of things to come, things only God would know.  

Tapping into the heart of God and then by faith, speaking His Truth, in love, even if it hurts, is always a blessing.

4.    Faith sees beyond the grave

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, looked beyond the grave as he blessed his grandchildren

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, looked beyond the grave hundreds of years, to the time they would return to the Promise Land.

5.    Faith grows

Faith, like a mustard seed, grows.

Notice we started with Abraham and one son, Isaac.  

Then, by faith Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau.

Then, by faith Jacob blessed twelve sons and two grandsons.

Then, Joseph blessed the whole nation of Israel.

You want to have great faith? Mountain moving faith? Soul saving faith?

You have been given a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

Now, what will you do with it?

Will you exercise your faith like a muscle getting stronger, by being obedient to what you know?

Whatever it is the Lord wants you to do, be faithful in that.

A few things all God’s children should do to exercise our faith:

Faithfully attend Church.

Faithfully read Bible.

Faithfully pray.

Do that. Your faith will grow.

Reject that. It won’t.

You’ll be stuck. Calling out to God when things go sideways. Unable to hear Him.

Two things to consider if you think God is not answering.

Ø Are you regularly responsibly reading His Word?

Ø Do you faithfully attend His Word being preached?

If you reject His form of communication, then, it’s not that He’s not answering, it’s that you’re not listening.

Romans 10:14, 17
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?... ¹⁷ Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of Christ.

6.    Faith worships

Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and worshipped leaning upon his staff.

One of Jacob’s greatest blessings was having the honor of seeing and blessing and worshipping in front of his grandsons.

Genesis 48:9-11
"Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”

And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

He worshipped humbly, leaning upon his staff.

Grandpa, grandma, do your grandchildren see you faithfully, humbly, worship the Lord?

When they look in your eyes do they see eyes of faith?

Are you leaving for them a legacy of faith.

Have you noticed, all these men of faith were doing acts of faith, to their children, their family? And they were doing it when they were dying. 

These all died in faith.

Finished well.

Lord, may we do the same.

7.    Faith instructs

By faith, Joseph gave instructions for his bones to be carried back to the Promise Land. By faith he knew God would indeed come and deliver them to the Promise Land.

This morning, I received a text that read: “So it appears she will pass soon”

Since it was almost 9:00 a.m. I was about to head to the Clubhouse to set up for Bible Study.

Instead, I went to Mike and Ann’s.

Ann was in the hospice bed in the living room. Mike was by her side.

We talked about finishing well, this short life, and heaven.

Ann’s breathing was labored, her eyes closed, she didn’t respond.

But when we said, “We’re going to pray,” ever so slightly Ann nodded her head.

We prayed about making peace with Jesus and how Mike and family would be okay, “and so once you and Jesus talk it over, and you’re ready, just go ahead and go with God.”

I had to leave to get ready for Bible Study, so I didn’t see the text from Mike just minutes later that said, “She has passed.”

After Bible Study I went back over and Mike said her last acknowledgement was when she nodded her head to pray.

Ann died in faith, knowing God would indeed come and deliver her to the Promise Land.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we know we’re just passing through. Help us pass the test of faith, to trust, to bless, to see beyond the grave, to grow, to worship and instruct all those You’ve given us, so we too, indeed will see Your face and hear You say, “Well done, welcome to the Promise Land.”

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.