Hebrews 6:13-15 (ESV)
[13] For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, [14] saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." [15] And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
In Hebrews 6:12 the readers are challenged to be "imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." He is talking about Abraham who, according to verse 15, "having patiently waited, obtained the promise." But did he? Abraham was promised land, descendants and blessing. When he died all he had seen was the birth of Isaac. Yet in Isaac, through eyes of faith, he saw the fulfillment. The readers of Hebrews knows the rest of the story. They know that Abraham's descendants became a great nation. They know the stories of Moses, and Joshua, and David, and Jesus. They are aware that in Isaac Abraham received the promise.
Ken Davis told a story on the radio this morning about a man shipwrecked on an island. He prayed for rescue, but eventually built a hut and settled into life on the island. One day he came back to find his hut engulfed in flames. He was discouraged. Where was God in all this? The next morning a ship came to rescue him. They had seen his "smoke signal." Like Abraham, and like the Hebrew believers to whom this letter was written, sometimes we don't see God in the darkness, but he is there. With Job we can say, "Though he slay me yet will I trust in him (Job 13:15)." By the unchangeable character of his purpose, and the impossibility of God telling a lie, we can know that his promises will be kept. We can trust him in the darkness.
Father, my faith is weak, but you are strong. Today I choose to trust you.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
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