Faith that submits to God’s will

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT

The writer of Hebrews commended the faith of Abel, Enoch, and Noah. No doubt, these three men had lived extraordinary lives of faith. But Abraham’s faith was detailed in such a way that everyone who gets acquainted with his life will realize how one can learn from his example of a life of faith. His growth in faith was chronicled in Genesis 12 to 25. Abraham’s faith was celebrated that during the prayer of confession of the people of Israel after they had built the wall, the Levites celebrated and praised God and Abraham’s faith. “You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant... And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous” (Nehemiah 9:7-8). Not only in the Old Testament that Abraham’s faith was inscribed. His faith to God made him righteous and that all those who will place their faith to Him just like what Abraham did will all be made righteous as well. “‘Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness’? Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’ So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith’” (Galatians 3:6-9). Thus, James called Abraham “a friend of God” because of his faith (James 2:23). Stephen in his speech to the Sanhedrin before he was stoned to death because of his faith mentioned Abraham’s faith: “‘The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham… ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you’” (Acts 7:2-3). Abraham believed God’s Word with certainty that even if he does not know where God will be leading him, he just obeyed. By faith, he held on to God’s promise that wherever that land would be, he knew that God will fulfill His covenant with him. In his mind’s eye, he can count on God and so he was willing to commit himself to Him and obey His commands. Abraham’s submission is the outward expression of his inner resolve to place his faith in God. It was not easy at first for Abraham to live in a new place “in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise” (Hebrews 11:9). He did not fit in for the people around him did not have the same faith like his. Yet, he made the best of his stay in this foreign land for this is God’s will for him and his family. They lived in tents for he knew that they were sojourners and were temporarily dwelling wherever they were until they arrive to God’s place of inheritance. This is the life of faith that God wants us to learn so that when He calls us, we will submit to His will. We may feel discomfort at first but just like Abraham, we, too, are “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

Blessings,