The Decisions of Faith
Hebrews 11:17-22
Hebrews 11:17–22 (ESV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
You make your decisions, and your decisions end up making you.
1. Faith Has Decided to Obey God
Hebrews 11:17a (ESV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac
Genesis 22:1–3 (ESV)
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Abraham’s Obedience was…
- Informed
> “When Abraham obeyed God’s mandate to leave Ur, he simply gave up his past. But when he was summoned to Mount Moriah to deliver his own son to God, he was asked to surrender his future as well.” --- William Lane
- Irreducible
Hebrews 11:17 (ESV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son
Hebrews 11:19 (ESV)
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
- Immediate
Genesis 22:3 (ESV)
So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
2. Faith Has Decided God Will Do the Impossible
A lot of Christians have decided God MIGHT do the impossible.
A lot of Christians have decided God CAN do the impossible.
But faith has decided that God WILL DO the impossible.
Hebrews 11:19 (ESV)
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Hebrews 11:19 (NIV)
Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
> “It could only be sorted out in Abraham’s mind that God must intend to raise Isaac from the dead. Thus Abraham “reasoned,” a word meaning inward conviction and not merely a considered opinion.” --- David L. Allen
Genesis 22:5 (ESV)
Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
Genesis 22:5 (NIV)
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Hebrews 11:19a (ESV)
He considered that God
You will never plan for a miracle until your thinking starts with the God of the impossible.
3. Faith Has Decided to Leave a Legacy of Faith
Hebrews 11:20–22 (ESV)
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
