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FAITH IN THE FIRE

It is important that we are found to be faithful when we go through the fire in our lives. See Galatians 6:9. Can God call us faithful when we go through the fire? There are three lessons we can learn about the faith of Abraham while in the fire.

1. The child of faith (vs 11-12)

God had promised a son and a long time has passed and nothing has happened.

A distant promise (vs 11) - Sarah was a woman of faith. You are not sure of this when you read the book of Genesis. Both Abraham and Sarah laughed at the idea of having a child in their advanced years. It was Sarah's idea to use Hagar to bear them a child. She didn't trust God. They had Ishmael and this leads to the conflict between Israel and the Arabs which we still have today. Sarah was disobedient but this does not mean she did not have faith. Salvation is not a call to perfection.
The divine provision (vs 11-12) - Suddenly Sarah was pregnant. What God promises, God provides. Sarah may be past age the normal age of bearing children and Abraham too old to father a child but God can overrule. Instead of a father of many (Abram) he became the father of a multitude (Abraham). Whatever God promises you, God can perform. See Mark 9:23 & Matthew 19:26 & Ephesians 3:20. All things are possible to those who believe.

2. The choices of faith (vs 13-15)

Their persuasion (vs 13) - They did not received the promises. They saw them afar off and were persuaded. They embraced the promises. The word embraced means "welcomed" or "greeted". The Old Testament saints looked forward in faith to the promises of God.
Their pilgrimage (vs 13-16) - They lived satisfied even though they were on a journey. They were not at home. We cannot get attached to this old world. We are not at home yet. We are strangers, pilgrims in this world. Who wants to go back to Ur? We desire a better country just like Abraham. Is this your desire? God is not ashamed to be called their God. Are you giving God a bad name? We are to live our lives in such a way that God is pleased and others can see it.

3. The challenge of faith (vs 16-19)

The mysterious offering (vs 16-18) - Abraham was tested by God to bring out his best. Abraham has waited so long for his son and now he has to offer him up as a sacrifice. Abraham's faith was tried in the fire. How do you respond when you are in the fire? It could be sickness or death in the family. Abraham does not understand but this does not stop him obeying God. Abraham believed that God would provide. He didn't know how. He just knew that God would provide.
The miraculous outcome (vs 19) - Abraham was going up one side of the mountain and God and a goat was going up the other side of the mountain. Abraham was ready to sacrifice his own son. He believed that God would rise him from the dead. God had not even taught about resurrection from the dead! God provided a alternative sacrifice. Abraham's faith went into the fire and came out as the real thing.