By Faith Abraham, When He Was Tested

Copyright (c) 2002  Jordan White

 

            There was a man, in Old Testament times, whose name was Abraham.

 

            This man, Abraham, is touted by the Zionists of our present time as being their “ancestor”, the one who made the “deal with God" that makes them the so-called “inheritors” of the land that we call “the Holy Land”.

 

            Yet, would Abraham himself wished to have that land bequeathed to the Zionists, that is,  modern-day people who call themselves "Israel", who in no way were related to him?

 

            Would he wish to show disrespect to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whom he foresaw and knew was to establish a spiritual kingdom that had nothing to do with any earthly piece of real estate?

 

            No, all throughout his life, Abraham knew he was “going home”.

 

            His "home" was God’s eternal kingdom, the land of peace and rest promised only through the coming Messiah.

 

            Remember the passage in the book of Genesis where Abraham and his nephew, Lot, had a disagreement because they didn’t have sufficient resources to take care of both of their large possessions (in those days, would have mostly have been herds of animals).  So Abraham, who told his nephew that he wished to avoid strife from quarreling over who owned what, would give Lot the land of his choice, and he, Abraham, would take whatever Lot did not choose.  Of course, when given the choice, Lot chose the well-watered valley of the Jordan River, leaving to Abraham the land of “Canaan.”

 

            Abraham deliberately chose the lesser-valued land, without even a quibble with his nephew.  Why?  Did he know something Lot did not know?

 

            Yes, for sure.

 

            How about the time that God called Abraham to go to the desolate land of Moriah, and asked him to sacrifice his only legitimate son and heir, Isaac, to God?  Abraham did not flinch as he gathered the wood for the fire for the sacrificial pyre.  He gave his beautiful son, Isaac, the only child of his union with his beloved wife, Sarah, the wood to carry to the altar of sacrifice.  He took in his own hand the burning brand that would light the fire for the sacrifice.  He took in his own hand the knife to slay the offering.

 

            His beloved son stared at Abraham.  Isaac looked with wondering eyes at his beloved father.

 

            "Father,” he said.  "Father, I know we’re doing an offering to God.  But where’s the lamb?”

 

            Abraham replied without hesitation:

 

            “Son,” he said.  “God will come up with the lamb.”

 

            How to explain this strange behavior?

 

            Let's look at the Book of Hebrews, in the New Testament, the part of the Scriptures that explains how the Old Testament mysteries are fulfilled through the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary:

 

            “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land...for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God...By faith Sarah herself received ability to conceive...therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”   (Hebrews 11: 8-12)

 

            Abraham’s “strange” behavior was due to his eyes of faith.  He trusted God to come up with his salvation, his heritage, his kingdom.  He saw with faith, not with a trust in arms, or strength, or youth, or whatever fancy man may imagine.  He trusted God.

 

            If you admire Abraham, and particularly if you call him your ancestor, and define your religion as having "Abrahamic roots",  perhaps you should begin to understand and emulate his faith.