Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM, PART 6

This entry was posted on 03-05-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"He [Abraham] believed that God could raise his son up, even if he were dead. And he did, in a manner of speaking, receive him back from death" (Heb. 11:19, The N. T. in Modern English, J. B. Phillips).

Abraham's faith was so great that he believed God could bring his son back to life, even if he took his life as God had asked him to do (Gen. 22:2). I know of no greater demonstration of faith in all of Scripture. Abraham believed that "God was able to raise him up" (KJV). Several other translations use "God was able" as well. This was also the expressed faith of the three Hebrew children when they were about to be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us..." (Dan. 3:17).

Abraham's magnificent faith was richly rewarded. "Isaac was doomed to death, but he came back again alive!" (TLB). Isaac became "a parable of the resurrection" (Moffat). "And figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back again from death" (NIV). You see, as far as Abraham was concerned, his son was dead from the moment they started their ascent up Mt. Moriah. Here is my favorite verse in the Genesis account: "And Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you" (Gen. 22:5 NKJV). Those last 7 words say it all. In his heart of hearts Abraham knew that father and son would walk back down that mountain - alive!

Prayer: Loving Father, how we thank You for the life of Your faithful servant Abraham. May we, his seed, always strive to live the life of faith through Jesus Christ our Lord.