faith: and one old man

Yes, I know, the old man pictured above isn't dressed like how I imagine old Father Abraham would have dressed.  But, then, there are no actual photos of anyone in ancient times.  And I want to see someone real.  The man, above, looks to me to be about the same age that Abraham was -- 100 years old, when Abraham fathered Isaac.  God had by that time already been dealing with Abraham for at least a quarter-century and more, raising him up in faith.  And Abraham was a willing student; though he didn't always get an 'A' on every test along the way.  But God knows what He's doing -- all the time.

100 years old: That's when things really started happening in Abraham's life.  How often I'm reminded of the fact that some of the greatest characters in the Bible were well advanced in years, before God could really use them.  It takes a long time, for most of us, to learn how small we really are in ourselves -- but how great God is or, at least, how great He wants to be in and through us.

In order for Abraham and Sara to have their own children, they had still to be walking together in marital love.  At their age, I'm sure that had as much (if not more) to do with their faith in God's promise to them, of a child of their own, than it was a matter of carnal desire.  They believed God; and they lived as if they believed Him.

Isaac was born to them when Sara was 90, and Abraham was 100 years old.  For Sara, Isaac was not merely her only son, but he was the only child she would ever give birth to.  His name, Isaac, means "Laughter".  One can imagine what joy it must have been to Sara, to have actually received such a miraculous promise of God, fulfilled.  Sara knew that God was in fact God.  And so did her husband know it.

Isaac was at least a young teenager when God commanded Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering unto the LORD (someone recently explained to me the possibility that Isaac may have actually been closer to 40 years old).  At any rate, Isaac's mother and father doubtless had grown deeply attached to their beloved miracle-son.  They were careful to raise him in the fear and admonition of the LORD.  They were proud of him.  They both looked to Isaac's future, with great hope and expectation: for, had not God promised He would make their son to become a "great nation"?

One night, as I imagine it may have happened, while Abraham was speaking to God in prayer, God spoke to him:

"Abraham, do you love me above all else?"

"Why, of course, I do, LORD.  You know my heart."

"Yes.  That's why I've chosen you for a special purpose."

"Anything, my Lord.  I am your servant."

"Indeed.  Abraham, do you love me above your own family?"

"Yes, Lord, I believe I do."

"Above Sara, and Ishmael, and Isaac?"

"Lord, you know my heart.  But what does that have to do with them?"

"I am a jealous God, Abraham.  You can have none other before me."

"No, God.  None."

"Abraham, everything you have, I have given to you."

"Bless you, my God.  You have, indeed."

"...including Isaac."

"The greatest of all you've given me, surely."

"Isaac is mine, Abraham -- as you are mine."

"Forever, O LORD, we are yours."

"I want him back, Abraham."

"What do you mean, you want him "back," Lord?  How have we withheld him from you?"

"You have not withheld him from me.  But will you yet withhold him from me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I want you to offer your son to me -- as a sacrifice of burnt offering."

"He is yours, God.  But how can I do that?  What do you mean?"

"I want you to offer the body of your son upon an altar of fire.  He is holy unto me."

What more could Abraham have said, in that moment?  I don't know how many days and nights Abraham may have wrestled with his decision to obey God's command.  I don't know whether Abraham may have tried to reason or even to bargain with God, for a way out.  Perhaps, Abraham was unflinching in his commitment to obey God without hesitation; but, I doubt it.  Though he was a man of faith, yet, he was, after all, human.

Finally, Abraham had to tell Sara what it was that he purposed to do -- to her only child:

"Honey, there's something I need to talk to you about..."

"You're going to do what to Isaac?  Have you lost your mind?  I waited all my life to have that boy!  How do you know it was God that spoke to you?  That doesn't sound like God, to me!  You must be getting senile in your old age.  Kill Isaac!  Kill Isaac!  I never heard such madness from you...."

But Abraham didn't recant.  And when he didn't leave her presence, but he stood there, stoically, and tears began to well up in his eyes . . . Sara knew he was sincere.  And she began to weep bitterly.  She could not look at Abraham.  She suddenly didn't want to live anymore.  Why should she?  Everything she had hoped for; everything she had prayed for, and waited for, and now worked many years to nurture that beautiful vision -- was being ripped from her arms, from her very heart of hearts, suddenly, without warning.

How could Abraham have prepared her mind for such a violent shock?  How could he have sheltered her against the blast?  How he would have held her fast in his arms.  But his were the very hands that in a matter of hours would destroy her own life.

I imagine that they could neither one speak to each other, in the day or days that followed, until Abraham left the camp with Isaac and a few of his servants.  Abraham knew.  And Sara knew, what was meant by their leaving on that day.  But no one else knew.

In heaven, too, was known something about the events of that day -- and what was to come, which was as yet unknown to Abraham or to Sara.  But God had spoken.  Now, it was up to Abraham, and to Sara, what they would do.  And, so, God waited -- for them.

It took three days to make the journey to the place where God showed Abraham he was to make the great sacrifice.  With every step he took, closer, and closer to that awful place, Abraham's mind was a maelstrom of thought and emotion.  I doubt even if it may be possible that any man ever wrestled so with any decision; except, perhaps, One.

Somewhere along the line, however, Abraham settled it in his mind that he was going to obey God, and not withhold from committing the unthinkable deed.  For, we know, from Scripture, what it was that upheld Abraham in his decision to obey:

"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." (Hebrews 11:17-19)

It may actually have been that Abraham stood on that faith even before he left home with Isaac.  Maybe, Abraham was thus able to console his precious wife, in some real measure, thus:

"Sara, do you think I want to do this?  I love him as much as you do.  But I know the voice of God -- do I not?  Don't you remember when the LORD himself stood outside our tent and spoke to me and told me that you were going to become pregnant with Isaac . . . and you laughed?  Didn't it happen just like He said it would?  Everybody knows what a miracle Isaac was -- and is.  And don't you remember, too, that God said He is going to make a great nation of Isaac?  How can that be--unless, Isaac . . . somehow . . . lives?  Somehow, Sara--I don't know how; but, somehow, God is going to keep His promises: all of them!  We have to trust Him, Sara.  I don't understand... Do you understand how God does what He does, Sara?  Well, do you?  Is it by our understanding, that we have come this far?  Look what God has done for us throughout the years.  Trust Him with me, my Darling.  Even if you don't fully trust me; even if you think maybe I miss God sometimes.  You must still trust Him.  He can do the impossible.  Isaac is a living miracle.  Every breath he takes is an ongoing miracle!  Pray, Sara.  Oh, for all that we love, my precious wife, pray!  Pray, and believe!  Believe for Isaac!  And, oh, Sara, pray for me.  God will not fail us.  We have not believed, in vain.  We have received our promise from God, by faith, Sara!  And we're not going to lose it, now, through unbelief!"

Three days later, Abraham stood at the base of Mt. Moriah with Isaac.  Turning to his servants, he said to them:

"Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." (Genesis 22:5)

Somewhere along the line, Abraham won the victory of faith.  He committed himself to believe the promise of God -- a promise which, it is important to recall, Abraham did not receive at any time lately.  No.  But, many years before that day, God had promised Abraham that from Isaac would come a great nation; and, that Isaac would be Abraham's heir.  Abraham thus stood firm upon an old promise -- to receive strength for a new, and a very great trial.

Abraham built an altar -- I believe it was on the exact spot where, centuries later, the heavenly Father would actually sacrifice His only Son.

Abraham was then something between 110-135 years old (look, again, at the picture, above).  Isaac doubtless could have physically overcome his father.  But he made no effort to resist (an image of Christ).  Why not?  Isaac very well knew what his Daddy was getting ready to do; and Isaac knew that he meant business -- with God.  Oh, Hallelujah!!  That's why Isaac didn't resist: he knew that his Daddy always meant business with God!  With that old man, it was no light matter to walk with God.  Isaac lived with that old man.  Isaac heard how his Daddy (and his Mother) prayed.  He knew how they thought, and spoke, and treated others, and how they lived, in every way, in real faith of the living God.  Isaac trusted his Mom and Dad, because, he knew how they trusted God -- even when they didn't fully understand God's ways, yet, they did fully trust HIM.

One, old man.  One . . . old, man.  Walked out his extraordinary faith, all the way.  Abraham could go no further than he did.  And God knew just when to intervene.  Of course, God knew, all along.

God knows what decisions we will make, whether we will trust Him, or not.  But God does not make our decisions for us.  He does give us the opportunity to make them, however.  And He is willing to help our faith, along the way, by sending encouragement to us, from time to time.  Usually, He sends encouragement to us, by reminding us of some old promises....

One, old man . . . who had no children of his own, until he was then too old to have children at all.  That old man carried something within himself, however, that was not only able to produce children (Abraham later had even more children).  But Abraham's faith was instrumental, in the hands of God, to bring forth Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Moses, and . . . Christ . . . and me.  And you.

One, old man -- a man of faith.  Real faith.  His faith, though, did not prevent his tears nor his trials.  But his faith carried him through those, unto Victory.

Every time.

Today, in this dark and profoundly troubled Age, there are yet some old men, and some old women, who walk in that same faith that Abraham had (where did he get his faith, but from God?).  It may not (yet) appear that much is happening, on the lines of faith.  But if faith is anything, it is "patient" (says God's Word).  But do not mistake the patience of faith, for indifference to the need.  Nor should you mistake faith's patience, for impotence: for, truly, faith is like the "conductor" through which flows the "electricity" of God's power -- which, like electricity, though it may be unseen, yet, it is nevertheless present and active.

Truly, God delights to use old men, and old women--of faith.  It is obvious that such have no power of their own, to accomplish anything in this world.  But that is just the point with God: the glory which belongs to Him alone, cannot be entrusted in the hands of those who can be tempted to abuse the power and the honor of the Holy Ghost.  (What an exceedingly great temptation that must be.)

It's not over, yet.  And I am sure that this faith -- this faith which we have received, not from Abraham, but from the Son of God, will bring forth nothing less than those unknowably great purposes for which Christ suffered and died, that He himself may receive that glorious Kingdom promised Him by His Father.  Of which you and I are privileged not only to be a part, but to be the bearers within ourselves of that holy Seed: the Word of God, and the faith of Jesus Christ.

I have a Vision, from God, of the Victory of Christ -- in this present life!  

It is not the Devil's will, which shall prevail to bring forth a hopeless and godless Future.  NO!  But this Vision of Christ's Victory, and the faith we have received from Him, is what shall prevail to bring to fruition the Word of faith (the promises and prophecies of God), in our own lifetime!

One, old man -- wrought so much, through faith.

Don't despair.  "Only believe," Jesus said, "and you shall see the glory of God revealed".

As for me and my house, we are going to be like Mary, who, when the Word of promise was given to her, she replied, "Let it be unto me, according to thy Word."

Amen.  So let it be.