God's Touchpoints - An Old Testament JourneySample

ABRAHAM – SOARING FAITH Barring the few blazes of light, civilization prospers and grows; so does idolatry. Joshua 24:2 reports that even Abraham, affectionately known as the father of faith, worshiped idols before God’s call. God, ever faithful and persevering, develops His plan from connecting through individuals to connecting through a nation. He calls Abraham (then Abram), from prosperous Ur of the Chaldees (modern Iraq), around his sixties and childless, to father Israel. Abraham takes time to respond and diverts to Haran with his father. Around age 75 when his father died, he eventually moves in the direction God set and enjoys God’s rich blessings. Seeing no sign of the promised child he gives birth to Ishmael in his mid 80's using his maid. It is when he was around 100 that his promised son, Isaac is born - over 30 years after God’s call. During this period we see his faith initially taking a beating as he almost loses his wife to Pharaoh and later Abimelech by pretending she is his sister. We see his generosity in allowing Lot to choose his share of the vast property before him. We see God confirming his call intermittently and covering his mistakes, gradually strengthening his faith. Lot, his nephew, on the other hand, starts out on this same journey and could have shared the same heritage, but took a detour that eventually crashes his staggering faith. Once Isaac is born, the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith is his preparedness to obey God to sacrifice his son. The father of the chosen nation, the father of our faith has to share in a small way, the pain of the Heavenly Father who much later sacrifices his own son Jesus in Moriah. Ishmael has to be sent away due to family clashes, but not after Abraham gets God’s promise to make of him a great nation as well. Isaiah prophecies that Ishmael’s descendants will unite in worshiping God in the holy city (Isaiah 60:7). The decades of growing his faith and discipline, gives his son, Isaac the legacy of his faith. During the long waiting period God: • Leads Abraham to the promised land • Protects him • Builds his faith • Enlarges his territories • Strengthens his equation with neighbors While we are waiting God is working. Are we ready to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises?