Do you trust me? The answer to this question will reveal your faith in the one who asked the question. Trust is important in family life. Husbands and wives must trust each other. Children must trust their parents. Parents are going to have to trust their children. But when trust is broken, it takes a long time to earn it back.
In the story of Abraham and Sarah, we discover some lessons about faith and trust.
Faith is Revealed in Submission.
Many people say they have faith. But faith is always proven by actions. James reminds us that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Faith is revealed in submission.
The faith of Abraham and Sarah began early. In Genesis 12 God told Abraham to leave his hometown of Ur and travel to an unknown location. Abraham had to trust God. But Sarah had to trust the husband God gave her. I imagine there was a good conversation. Moving is not fun, especially for a wife. But Abraham trusted God, and Sarah trusted Abraham. Their faith was revealed in their submission. Submission isn’t about authority. Submission is about love and trust.
Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
Blondin was a famous tightrope walker in the mid 1800s. His most famous feat was to cross 160 feet above the Niagara Falls on a 3 inch tightrope. He did this blindfolded, in a sack, and pushing a wheelbarrow. When he arrived on either the Canadian or American side, the crowd would shout his name, “Blondin, Blondin.” He would ask, ‘Do you think I can cross the gorge?’ They all yelled “Yes!”. Until one day he asked the obvious question, “Who believes enough to get on my back?’ Only one man, his manager, Harry Colcord, sat on his back and crossed. Many believed, only one completely trusted.
Faith is Always Attacked.
We discover twice the faith of Abraham and Sarah was attacked. The found out what happens when you don’t trust God.
After a time of great faith there will be times of attack.
While in the Promised Land a famine occurred. No food or water. So rather than staying where God directed, Abraham decided to travel to Egypt. He couldn’t trust God to keep Him where He sent Him. He further doubted God by lying about Sarah to the Egyptians. If they thought they were brother and sister, they wouldn’t kill him to get her. Not only was this an attack on Abraham’s faith in God, it was also an attack on Sarah’s faith in her husband. Here was a case she could have rebelled against sinful authority. It shows how deep her faith and submission were to her husband and to God. Abraham failed Sarah but God did not fail Sarah. This actually happened a second time with Abimilech. It shows how faithfulness the faithful can be. Faith can be attacked over and over again. Sarah submitted a second time.
Faith is not about everything turning out okay. Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.
Another example of an attack on their faith was the postponement of the delivery of their child. God had promised to Abraham and Sarah a son. But years went by and no child. It appeared. By faith they waited. Sarah believed God would give a son to her husband so she tried to help Him. Her faith was wavering. She suggested Abraham have a son through her handmaid, Hagar. The son born was Ishmael, the ancestor of the Arabic people. Their lack of trust in God’s timing brought years of animosity to their ancestors – the Jews and Arabs.
Faith Always Wins.
The faith of Abraham and Sarah was finally triumphant. Isaac was born. It is not the size of our faith but the size of our object of faith – God.
Faith does not make things easy. It makes things possible.
But even after the baby was born, they continued to have problems. Ishmael and Isaac didn’t get along. So Sarah demanded Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Just as Sarah had to trust Abraham, Abraham had to trust his wife.
Then as Isaac grew, God told Abraham to offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham had to once again trust God with His promise. Abraham and Sarah were people who modeled faith in God and faith in each other.
A five year old girl went to her faith and asked if he would build her a dollhouse. He promptly nodded and went back to reading his book. Soon he glanced out the window and saw her arms filled with dishes, toys, and dolls, making trip after trip until she had a great pile of playthings in the yard. He asked his wife what their daughter was doing. “Oh you promised to build her a doll house, and she believes you. She’s just getting ready for it.” He immediately threw aside his book, and went to the lumber yard for supplies, and built his daughter a doll house. When asked later, he said it wasn’t because he wanted to or because she deserved it. But he gave his word, his daughter believed it and acted on it. When he saw her faith, nothing could keep him from carrying out his word. That’s what God will do for us.
Be strong. Have faith. Trust God.