The Vision and the Appointment: Chapter 2
By George H. Warnock
Abraham, the Father of All who Believe
We introduced Abraham as a man who had enduring faith. But we must go back to his early experiences with God, to demonstrate how great his faith was in the sight of God. When God told him to leave the country of his birth, and Go, there is no indication that he questioned God, or even asked Him where he was to go. He heard what God said, and obeyed "and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Heb 11:8). God was preparing a vessel who would become known as 'the father of all those who believe' (see Rom 4:11; Gal 3:29). And so Abraham's faith must have been great in the sight of God. But the greatness of his faith was not determined by the mighty works he would perform, nor by great miracles that would cause men to stand in awe of what he had done. Rather, in God's sight his faith was determined by his obedience to do what God said, without asking the reason why. If people asked, Where are you going, Abraham? It appears you are going on a journey? - all he could say was, I don't know! Doesn't make sense, does it? But a walk of faith is not intended of the Lord to make sense. It takes faith to walk in obedience before the Lord. If you can show a miracle to confirm your faith, you will probably be held in high esteem by the people. But if there is no miracle to confirm what you are doing, you could be subject to a lot of criticism for doing something that does not make sense.
However, we have to be cautious in this matter of faith. We must emphasize that Abraham was walking in obedience to the word of God. Many will say, I'm just going to step out by faith, and do it! There is nothing you and I can do to generate faith, except to know His Word and walk in obedience to His will. Certainly this implies that we hear from God. Peter would not think of stepping out of the boat by faith, and going to meet Jesus -- not until he heard that clear word from Jesus - Come! There can be no faith, unless we are assured that we are walking in obedience to His will. Because "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17).
There is a vast amount of teaching around this matter of claiming the promises. If God said it, is that not enough? It was more important to Abraham to obey God, than to claim the promises. When God told him to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering - he didn't argue with God: "God you promised me that through Isaac all nations would be blessed." He obeyed God; he knew that if God said it, He would bring it to pass.
I know God's promises are available to faith, but let us be sure we are asking for things in His Name. Just saying in your prayer, "I ask this in Jesus' Name" - this alone is not enough. Asking in Jesus' Name can only be effective as we walk in obedience to His will. Then we know we have His sanction and approval in what we are doing. I know Jesus said, "If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it" (Jn 14:14). If I go to someone with a message from the Prime Minister of Canada, and I say, I come to you with a message in the name of the Prime Minister -- I had better be very sure that the message is consistent with what the Prime Minister would say, if he went there himself. When Abraham sent his trusted servant to go to Haran and find a bride for Isaac, his servant went there in fear, and sought the Lord earnestly for guidance, that he might find the bride for Isaac that God had ordained. He went in the fear of God, and in the fear of his master Abraham.
And so our Lord defines the prayer of faith clearly when He says: "If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (Jn 15:7).
I am not complicating the process of faith, to make it more difficult; I am clarifying it, to make it more real and meaningful. Many of God's people have been devastated when they stepped out on faith (or so they thought) - and then started to sink! God would spare us the devastation that people have gone through when they latch onto a certain promise, and then attempt to make it work "by faith." It is likely that someone taught them to step out on God's promises, when God may have wanted them to stay in the boat, until they heard that clear call from the Master: "Come!" When Peter heard that clear word, that was sufficient: he stepped out of the boat, and walked on the water by faith. And the water was firm as the dry land, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus.
