I am reading a book by Edmund Clowney called, The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament (Thanks Steve and Glenda), and I came across this paragraph that I wanted to share. The context is the story of Isaac and Abraham and specifically when God calls Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. After building the context in which God has promised a son, then many years go by before the son is finally given to Abraham. Then God, seemingly, gives a command that will destroy His promise, “Sacrifice your son.” The author says concerning the nature of true faith,
“Abraham’s faith was tested when God asked him to give everything. Faith cannot be less than total. To trust in God means to look to Him alone, to find in Him all our hope, to hold nothing back, no reserve. Yet because faith looks to God and not to ourselves, faith’s giving is really a receiving. In commitment, the price faith pays is everything. But in total trust, the price is nothing. Faith looks to God, not man, as the giver.” (Page 35)
This was a challenge and comfort to me. These descriptions of true faith do not describe me. I still feel very much that the price of faith is Everything. I want to strive to believe that in completely trusting God, the price is actually Nothing. Too often in making decisions for me and my family my faith is found in making the right decision, rather than in God.
The comfort in this is that true faith trusts and receives from God. The price I pay in total faith is actually nothing, because God bears the responsibility as giver. He is the ultimate planner and provider. It is my job to be humble, submissive, and trusting as a receiver. God is the giver, and the giver gets the glory!
