SortingBeans

Faith seems to be an easy thing to talk about in these days
We have a history to draw from. Indeed, we preach faith in the church, teach it in universities, and draw from the classic examples. Our first Biblical reference to a person operating in faith is Able (Heb. 11:4). Why would this person be significant in our topic of faith as it relates to trusting in God? Glad you asked. While in my Bible survey class, we discussed this topic with another Biblical figure who resembles a similar connection. It occurred to me how this aspect of faith is quite unique. Able, brother of Cain and Son of Adam. Who was before Adam? Answer: God. We must take this into consideration. When the Bible says

“By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteousness, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” Hebrews 11:4

Why would Able be commended as righteous by offering his sacrifices? We learn this as the first person to sacrifice to the Lord (Gen. 4:1-4). We read in verse 4 of Genesis that Abel “brought of the firstborn of his flock. . . . And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering.” First I want to point out what should be obvious. That is, the offering of the firstborn. Abel could have offered – supposingly – any of his born. But his first born is more precious. That is why the Lord had more regard for Abel than for Cain and his offering. For Cain’s offering was “of the fruit of the ground.” The Bible does not even record this as being the first fruit of the ground.

{As a side note, God still offered grace to Cain, as the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?”}

Why mention all this sacrifice and how does it relate to faith. It relates because it was by faith that Abel offered his sacrifice. Now, this is what is unique about this type of faith. I have not read this in any commentary, nor have I heard it taught, but have eluded toward it in my Biblical Studies class. Here is my observation: Faith, just as the introducing of the first sacrifice – of the firstborn – so is it with Abel’s; the exercise of the first faith. It was of the direct relationship with God. I perceive there was an absence of the competition the world now has against our attention. Abel had no “Bible”. He had no “patriarchs” that he could learn from. It was him, his brother, and his parents. Abel’s faith was commended because he trusted without the proofs and evidences of God’s fulfilling promises. There were no promises fulfilled at the time of Abel’s offerings!

When reading this text in this light, I am at a different understanding of faith in that it is unique. After all, there was nothing to “test” the voice of God against. What failures or success did Abel have to draw from? His father’s? God kicked Abel’s dad out of the perfect garden, never to return. Would this cause Abel to trust in God?

I have spent a lot of time on Abel, just to capture this idea of the uniqueness of faith. What about others, though. I will quickly run by some.

Noah
Holy camoley (an academic word, trust me)! This guy, by faith, trusted in the voice of God to build a boat for something called rain that he had never seen before (Gen. 6:14-22)! Can you imagine the ridicule he must have incurred?

Abraham
We cannot leave this man out. As the famous words go, “Go into the land that I will show you,” said the Lord to Abraham (Gen. 12:1). My response to something like this would be, “What land?” If you are anything like me, the “land that I will show you” does not sound like direction. Which direction does one begin?

Moses
Okay. This man is sort of like Abraham. He lead Israel out of Egypt in the book of Exodus by trusting in the Word of the Lord. Where did it take him? Answer: dead smack up against a sea with no where to run and the Egyptians right at your tail. Thankfully, God had a plan (Ex. 14:10-31).

Mary
Double holy camoley! Who in the world would believe that God would impregenate them without the seed of a man? Mary did. She believed. Not only did she believe it would happen, she trusted God through it (Luke 1:26-38).

All of these people are great examples of Biblical figures of faith. There are quite a numerous amount more, and more to be said about these. However, as an introductory series, it is meant to cause you to think.

So think.

Do these examples of faith seem like a popular understanding of faith to you? Or do they seem as though it would take an act of God for the person to believe what they did; for them to have faith in the Word of God and the promises he has made?

-Jonathan J.