My journey...

Am pondering on the story of Abraham. Our Father of faith. When you read about the story of Abraham, he hardly comes across as a Father of faith. One who is so fearful of his death that he passed his own wife as his sister so he will not be harmed. One who listened to his wife and slept with his maid cause he did not trust that God will bring about his promises for a son to come to pass through Sarah his wife. Yet Abraham is our Father of faith.

The incident which is the turning point was the sacrifice of his son Isaac. Imagine a man whose only heir is Isaac (for Ishmael has been banished). A son who will carry on his family lineage. How precious is this son. Yet God has asked him to sacrifice that which he has waited for so long. God himself refered to Isaac as His beloved. How difficult it must have been for Abraham. Yet he feared God more than his desire for Isaac to live. He trust that God will keep his promise. God did promise that Abraham will have many descendents. Abraham trust that God will fulfill that which he promised. If Isaac is sacrificed, God will provide. If one is to have faith, one has to trust fully the person whom he has faith in. We cannot rely upon our own strength and our own understanding. Trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him...

God will give a promise and test our faithfulness. Not to the promise but to Him. It is our heart which He desires. Our walk with Him is a journey. Though Abraham started off with unbelief, in the end, he feared God more than anything he desires. Thus God branded him Father of Faith.

God desires obedience rather than sacrifice. A sacrifice can be out of our own pride or our own strength. Something that I want to give up. Not necessary that which God has called you to give up. Obedience is a humbling of heart. A will to want to follow. A heart attitude.

King Solomon started off with a heart after God. He desired wisdom among all that God is able to give him so that he can lead God's people in righteousness. But Solomon in the end did not complete the journey well. He worshipped other idols and have swayed far from God. He was refered to a bad King. One whom God has chosen to build His temple. Gave in to idolism.

Abraham's faith was not a blind faith. It is through his experiences and his walk with God. It is through the many failures that he went through. The lessons that he has learnt. To know that it is better to listen to God rather than to disobey. He knows the character of God. He trusted in that character. Our Father of faith.