Faith behind the Scenes
Faith behind the Scenes
Genesis 26:4b-5
“…And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
I’m immediately struck by God’s declaration at the very end of verse five that Abraham obeyed ‘my commandments, my statutes, and my laws,’ because it isn’t until generations later, after Moses delivers Israel from Egyptian bondage, that God gives specific commandments, statutes, and laws to His people. If Abraham didn’t receive stone tablets on Sinai, what commandments did he obey? And if he’d never read Leviticus’ instructions for tabernacle service, whatstatutes did he perform? And if he lived long before Deuteronomy’s laws were given for daily life, what laws did he follow? This biblical mystery, I mean the mystery of how exactly God revealed Himself to Old Testament saints before Moses, is deeply confounding. Yet the lesson for us isn’t.
God could’ve relayed all the behind-the-scenes details if He’d wanted, but He didn’t, which tells us two things: first, that the life of faith is ultimately lived out between us and our Lord; and second, that obeying God’s voice in private has a drastic impact in public. So bless the Lord by your obedience today, friend! And you’ll bless the world too.