Sermon Snippet – A Simple Life of Faith
INTRODUCTION – Hebrews 11:8-19 provides a summary of the life of Abraham. It also includes a positive evaluation of Sarah, his wife. We learn that a simple life of faith is pleasing to our good God. As verse 6 confirms, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
1. ABRAHAM LIVED IN HUMBLE ABODES
Verse 9 points out that Abraham lived in Israel, “the land of promise,” in tents. From the age of 75 until his death at 175, this servant of God led a nomadic existence, without a solid roof over his head. For a century, as he aged as all people do, he did not have the luxury of a permanent house (except for very brief periods). Verse 10 points us to Abraham’s eternal expectation: ”For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Too often, our emphasis is on what we possess, but “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15b). By the standards of his era, Abraham was a wealthy man. However, his focus was on something “better” (verse 16).
2. ABRAHAM BUILT HOLY ALTARS
Verse 8 tells us that Abraham “obeyed” the call to go to Israel, “not knowing where he went.” The fuller account is found in Genesis 12:1-8 and includes the important details that “there builded he an alter unto the LORD” in Shechem (verse 7) and later in Bethel (verse 8). These physical places of worship required effort to construct and reveal to us that Abraham was sincerely interested in praise to God. Abraham did not build a permanent structure for himself, but he did build lasting places of worship. The contrast is powerfully instructive.
3. ABRAHAM DISPLAYED HONEST AFFECTION
The relationship of Abraham and Sarah was imperfect, of course. However, their shared lives were characterized by shared faith, as Hebrews 11 states and for which they are specifically commended. To me, the honest affection that Abraham had for his wife is best displayed in his provision for her when she died. At great cost, he purchased a burial cave (Genesis 23) – the only piece of the Promised Land that he ever owned. A cemetery is a poignant place. So it was for faithful Abraham.
4. ABRAHAM PERFORMED THE HARDEST ACT IMAGINABLE
Hebrews 11:17-19 reveals Abraham’s greatest act of faith: the sacrifice of Isaac, the son through whom would come all of God’s promises. Genesis 22:1-18 is the familiar account of God’s provision of a ram as a sacrifice in place of Isaac. We should note the insight of Abraham’s reasoning. He knew that God always keeps His promises; thus, if Isaac died, God would raise him from the dead. As an expression of faith, Abraham’s sacrifice is unchallenged…
CONCLUSION – except for the greater sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God the Son, Who gave Himself for us (as prefigured by the ram instead of Isaac). We have far more information about God than Abraham had (verse 13); we have compelling evidence to believe in Jesus and His atonement. May our faith be fully in the finished work of the Savior, and may this faith work out into our daily lives so that each of us “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (I Timothy 2:2b).