Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead"... 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
This passage of scripture teaches us that we must stand resolutely upon the promises of God, if we are to weather the storms that are now brewing on the horizon, especially as the powers of darkness are mustering their forces for the last great, and final conflict between truth and error, between good and evil. The passage in Hebrews chapter six teaches us that he that cometh to God "Must" believe, which simply means that there is no other way for us to survive as Christians.
God has made provision in His word for us to rest upon His promises in any and every situation we may encounter, and it's by doing so that we are enabled to gain victories that are out of reach to the unbeliever. In the case of Abraham, God had promised to give him a son in his old age, something that became quite a daunting proposal, as his wife Sarah had long passed the age of child-bearing. And when the son of promise finally came, there was great rejoicing in the tents of Abraham, for now the promises of God which had hitherto seemed so far-fetched, were now a living reality in their tents. Let's read:
Genesis 21:1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 5 And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6 And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
However, after Isaac was grown to young adulthood, a startling command came from the same God, for Abraham to take the life of his son with his own hands, a command which at the first seemed to defy all logic, for how would the promises of numberless descendants as the sands of the sea be fulfilled, if Isaac was to be slain? But although Abraham had his questions about the gory nature of the command, yet he stumbled not, but quickly obeyed, albeit with a deep sorrow and heartache, as only a parent can feel. Let's read:
[Patriarchs and Prophets pp. 152] At the appointed place they built the altar and laid the wood upon it. Then, with trembling voice, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine message. It was with terror and amazement that Isaac learned his fate, but he offered no resistance. He could have escaped his doom, had he chosen to do so; the grief-stricken old man, exhausted with the struggle of those three terrible days, could not have opposed the will of the vigorous youth. But Isaac had been trained from childhood to ready, trusting obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing submission. He was a sharer in Abraham’s faith, and he felt that he was honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God. He tenderly seeks to lighten the father’s grief, and encourages his nerveless hands to bind the cords that confine him to the altar.
And now the last words of love are spoken, the last tears are shed, the last embrace is given. The father lifts the knife to slay his son, when suddenly his arm is stayed. An angel of God calls to the patriarch out of heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” He quickly answers, “Here am I,” And again the voice is heard, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.”
It is worthy of note that prior to this sobering experience, no human being had ever been resurrected from the dead, but as is the case, whenever faith in God's promise is exercised, unheard of possibilities begin to emerge from nowhere, thus making a living reality of what was previously not even considered. It means then that the possibility of a resurrection would never have occurred to the mind of Abraham, had he not implicitly obeyed the voice of God in this singular command.
Oftentimes in our Christian experience, the promises of God may also seem far-fetched, and like Abraham and Sarah, we too may be tempted to "Laugh" when God says such and such will be fulfilled in due season. Especially is this the case with a wayward child, who seems bent on having their own way, in spite of the clearest instructions and training by the parents to the contrary. And as we see him or her headed in the wrong direction, we too may stumble at the promise that God has given us, pertaining to these very issues. Let's read:
Isaiah 49:24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 25 But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
At times, these promises may seem to evade us, and we may be just hanging on by a thread of hope, praying, waiting, and watching, with earnest desire, which might even stumble at times. My mom once told me that she prayed for me when there seemed to be no sense in praying again, and again, and again. However, in the fullness of time, the captive was delivered, and saved, just as the promises of God states. It then should give us hope that whatsoever situation we may be praying about, that God will hear and answer in His own time and way, but we must keep pressing on in faith, and believing unto death, that what God says He is well able to do, when the right time comes.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that we continue to hope against hope, for the words and promises of God will all be fulfilled in their due season, according to His good and perfect will. Let's read:
Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!