The Walk of Faith

I am convinced that we often assume we are walking in faith when we haven't even taken a genuine step.  It is so easy for us to walk by sight, trusting our eyes or even our gut over relying wholly upon God for direction and preservation.  Putting on a parachute requires no faith:  it is the jump from the deadly height that is the first step of faith in a parachute.  To me faith in God looks and feels at times more like leaping out of a plane without a parachute with only His hands to catch us.  We step out in faith when He is our only recourse, strength, and salvation.

The scriptures reveal times where people came to a place when they had no choice but to trust God.  If we have not been uncomfortable to do what God says, then we must wonder if we have ever walked in faith!  The flesh despises the path of faith, but there is nothing better for the soul.  Jacob was forced to walk by faith.  He was a man who trusted in God and taught his children to follow after God.  Jacob was deceived by his sons to believe Joseph was dead.  Joseph had a younger brother named Benjamin who was precious to Jacob.  For this reason, Jacob was hyper-protective of Benjamin because he likely blamed himself for the supposed death of Joseph and Benjamin was the only remaining son of his beloved and deceased wife Rachel.  Jacob and his household were suffering from a severe famine, and the man selling the corn in Egypt (Joseph in disguise!) said they would not be able to purchase food in Egypt unless Benjamin came with them.

Jacob put it off as long as possible.  He procrastinated sending his sons for food because he was unwilling to part with Benjamin.  But he realised that he needed to let go of Benjamin so the whole family could live.  He said in Genesis 43:13-14, "Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. ¹⁴ And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!"  Jacob finally submitted himself into the hands of God in faith when he gave permission for his sons to take Benjamin to Egypt with them.  He came to the point when he gave all control of the situation to God:  "If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!"  Jacob was brought to the place of surrender to God.  It was at this point when he was forced to walk in faith.  He was reluctant to do so, but God would reward him mightily for his obedience with not only the life of Benjamin, but the with life of his long-lost son Joseph, as one from the dead.

Esther is another prime example.  She was a Jewess who was made queen by king Ahasuerus.  The king's top advisor, Haman, had made a decree that all the Jews throughout the land were to be killed on a particular day.  Esther was counseled by her cousin Mordecai, who had brought her up as his own daughter, to go before the king to plead for the life of the Jewish people.  Esther was reluctant to do so, seeing that a person going before the king without an invitation was given the death sentence unless the king held forth the golden sceptre.  Mordecai suggested that the salvation of the Jews could even be God's purpose behind her becoming queen.  Esther 4:15-16 says, "Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"  Esther was brought to the same place as Jacob, the place where she had to walk by faith in God.  The decree was against her, as was the law.  She committed her life into the hands of God by faith, and God wrought a great salvation:  Haman was sent to the gallows, Mordecai was promoted into Haman's role above all princes, and the Jews were granted the right to take up arms for defense and were saved.

Before Jesus went to the cross He said in prayer to His Father in heaven, "Not my will, but yours be done."  It was a place of absolute trust and surrender.  Jesus knew that torture and the humiliation of a Roman cross awaited Him.  He knew the sins of the world would be placed upon Him as a sacrificial Lamb without blemish or spot, and He would face separation from God.  This place of no hope in this world without God is where He desires to bring all of us.  It is an uncomfortable place we would all love to avoid in our flesh, yet it is ironic that only in this place of trust where we discover and experience God's peace that passes understanding.  We realise in these moments of decision when we walk in obedience how worthy God is of our trust.  Those who walk in faith in God will never be put to shame.

Have you experienced this walk of faith?  Have you first trusted in Christ alone to save you from sins?  If you have not, you are certainly not saved!  Have you since been in the position where you have been forced to throw yourself upon the mercy of God?  It is the perfect place to be.  I have been reluctant in my life to walk on the path of faith, as have we all.  God desires that we not only trust Him at the first for our salvation, but that we walk by faith continually.  Praise God that He supplies the faith and strength to do so, for it is He who works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure.  Instead of worrying or complaining because of the difficult challenges in life, praise God that He allows us ample opportunities to trust Him and walk in love, following Christ until the end!