Not Shrinking Back – Week Four

Faith is about the long game, not the short game. 

Your faith is not measured by your accolades but by your character. Faithfulness is about the choices you make, not the outcome of those choices. 

In his book, Chase the Lion, Mark Batterson says, “It’s not coming out that is courageous; it’s going in.” He notes, “God doesn’t always call us to win. Sometimes He just calls us to try. Either way, it’s obedience that glorifies God.”

Going in, stepping out, and standing firm is the substance of faith. Faith does not guarantee all will go well or according to plan, but it does ensure God’s favor and blessing.

Consider Abraham’s story. When God said go, he went, “not knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NASB) When God promised him that he would be a great nation, Abraham believed. Paul explains, “In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken.” (Romans 4:18)

Circumstances said to give up; still, Abraham persevered. When his body and his wife’s body were long past the childbearing years, “he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, being fully assured by God had promised, He was able to perform.” (Romans 4:20-21)

Did you catch that? When practically speaking, there was no reason to hope, Abraham looked to God. When nothing was happening outwardly, inwardly Abraham’s faith was growing. 

What about you? Does your faith grow in the waiting? Or do you have a tendency to run away, give up, or shut down?

After many years of believing God’s promise, Abraham’s son Isaac was born. Finally! Hope came to life. Light shone in the darkness. But before long, God challenged Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. I’ll be honest – I find this story to be more than a little bit crazy. First of all, child sacrifice is not God-honoring. Secondly, why would God ask Abraham to give up the answer to his prayers and the result of decades of faith?

While I don’t completely understand, I know what the Bible tells us. God was testing Abraham (Hebrews 11:17). The emphasis was not on how Abraham could grow his family – that was God’s job. Instead, the focus was on Abraham’s obedience. And Abraham passed the test. Hebrews 11:19 tell us, “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead from which he also received him back as a type.”

In this instance, God didn’t make Abraham go through with the sacrifice, but He did reveal Abraham’s character and beliefs. Abraham was so convinced of God’s power and God’s promise that he knew God could and would do whatever miracle it took to bring it about that promise.

Abraham’s responsibility was faith in God. God’s responsibility was to fulfill the promise. And the same is true for you and me. Our part is faith – faith that defies circumstance, faith that is bold, faith that is unwavering, faith that does not shrink back. We cannot control the outcome, but we can trust our God – the One who works miracles, opens doors, and fulfills promises.

Abraham is recognized repeatedly in Scripture for his faith, but more often than not, his faith had no visible rewards. I wonder – what would have happened if Sarah became pregnant right after Abraham took his first step into the wilderness? Would he still be renowned for his faith? My guess is probably not. 

Abraham grew strong in faith by acting in obedience without any guarantee of the outcome. His long journey allowed him to develop his character, persevere against all odds, and inspire us today. 

Even though Abraham didn’t know it at the time, God’s challenge to sacrifice his son, Isaac, was a picture of the gospel. Abraham’s obedience illustrated a coming day when the God of the Universe would send His only Son to die. The sacrifice of both Abraham and Isaac would help people understand the sacrifice of Jesus. And even though we are not Abraham or Isaac, our actions have the power to display God to the world. Our obedience and faithfulness reflects our Saviour, Jesus. 

Choose faith today. You may not know where it will take you, but we know that faith always draws us closer to God and paves the way for Him to work in His way and in His time.