FAITH MUST GO BEYOND INFORMATION
I
One day Abraham heard God’s voice: “Leave your country … your father’s household…” He obeyed and left, not knowing where he was going.
In the course of his wandering years—actually decades—, he got to know God.
Many times God talked to him in a dream. A reading of Genesis shows us that most times only God’s voice was heard, with no angels or objective glorious manifestations.
This is what we read:
“And the Lord appeared…”
“And God spoke…”
“And the Lord said to Abraham…”
Of course there is the three angels’ visit and the Angel of the Lord’s manifestation. This manifestation had physical, objective characteristics. Those present took part in it, and food and drinks were served.
However, in his darkest night, at the most dramatic time, nothing is said but “And the Lord said to Abraham…” And His request to Abraham was that he slew his son as a sacrifice to Him.
At the very beginning, Abraham had said, “Here am I, Lord…”
When he and Isaac were on their way to Moriah, the boy was suspicious that something terrible was going to happen to him and said, “My father?”, hinting at a conversation. Abraham’s answer was the same: “Here am I, my son.”
Abraham already knew God to such a point that to his faith explanations were unnecessary.
He had become free from the need of information to go ahead.
“Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”, asked a distressed Isaac.
“On the mount of there’s sight in the Lord”—it’s what the original text says.
He literally didn’t use to take action based on his sight or on his knowledge. Abraham proceeded because he knew God, although he knew nothing of His Ways.
There’s a kind of faith that wants to know the way before deciding whether to proceed. A true faith, however, has no questions. It only knows of God. Therefore, it discerns two things:
1. The one who knows God needs no explanations.
2. The one who knows God knows that even if things are out of his/her “sight”, there is sight in the Lord.
God knows for me.
God sees for me.
Abraham believed, and it was credited to him as righteousness!
I want to learn to believe and trust like that too.
That certainly doesn’t make life easier, but for sure takes us to the place where all things work together for the good of those who love God. After all, I may not know, but He knows for me; I can’t see, but He sees for me.
Only by faith do I see the invisible. And this is my faith: God knows and sees for me and for you.
The only thing I’m supposed to say is, “Here am I, Lord!”
Caio
(Written in July 2003)
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From the original: “A FÉ TEM QUE SER MAIOR QUE A INFORMAÇÃO”
Translated by F. R. Castelo Branco | May 2007
