HALL OF FAITH—NOAH AND ABRAHAM

I am terribly sorry for disappearing without express or implied notice since my last post in the month of July (that’s an awfully long time).

NOAH

“[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign…” v.7

Remember the ark which saved an entire generation? He built it.  Who wants to build a gargantuan ship with such little tools and copious details? A cursory look at Gen 6:13-22 would reveal that all that Noah had was God’s word. “And God said…” There was a storm coming, a storm that would efface the memory of mankind; the entire universe would be swallowed, and a man is faced with the herculean task of building a ship, and ALL that he had was God’s word! No one wants that.

We often times need some kind of assurances, a leverage sort of; a document, an advance payment, or something more than a person’s say so. If we did get everything that we need before we believe, then what is the value of such a belief? But Noah knew that that was all he needed—God’s word. He believed God because it was God. What was the basis of his faith? God.

Because of his faith in God, an entire generation was preserved.

             And today as Hebrews 11 is read, Noah is mentioned in the Hall of Faith because he displayed an unshakable believe in God without need for proof or evidence. That’s his story. God’s word was good enough a proof to elicit absolute believe.

ABRAHAM

This candidate needs no introduction; his reputation is unrivaled. Our mind quickly runs to this character whenever the word Faith is mentioned. He is the father of Faith, and with good reason.

           This personality was called to depart from his kin and proceed to a place unknown. When he answered the call, he had no idea where he was going. Abraham (or Abram) sojourned from the known to the unknown. A comfortable life, a wife, servants, and a goodly amount of chattels, and even the inheritance of a son; Abraham’s plans were abruptly dislodged. He had dreams—whether it is to give his unborn child a good environment to grow, or to establish his trade, or to refurbish his house; part of being a man meant he worried about these things.

 He was using make-shift shelters, caves as dwellings alongside his heirs—Isaac and Jacob. How hard it must have been for these lads! Abraham was strong and believed God for an inheritance, even though he didn’t have a square foot piece of land as his own. He was looking for a country whose builder and architect was God.

You and I want, with exactitude, to know a dozen paces ahead about our lives before we take the next step. God almost always calls us from our settled lives into the adventurous, unknown, and unfamiliar life. We must trust in His wisdom like Abraham did. That’s why he speaks to us today.