Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Romans 11:1
I think it is often easy to read in the Old Testament and miss the actions of faith that the ancients are commended for. When I read the story of Abraham taking Isaac to the mountain, I have always imagined him kind of tentatively trusting God, walking up the mountain thinking, “Well Lord, if you say so? But gosh this doesn‘t make sense.” But the reality is, He had the promise of God that he would become a great nation. So by faith he proceeds up the mountain knowing that God will not allow Isaac to be killed.
Likewise, we were studying the life of Moses at our Saturday women’s Bible study. Now if you’ve watched any number of movies, including the Veggie Tales story of Moses, Moses’ parents are always portrayed as fearful that baby Moses would be found. As an act of desperation, his parents place him in a basket hoping for the best. But that’s not what scripture really says:
Romans 11:23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and THEY WERE NOT AFRAID of the king’s edict.
Just to be clear, the words they were not afraid are not capitalized in the Bible. I have capitalized them here to draw attention to my point. Moses’ parents did not put him in the basket as an act of desperation, fearful of what may be. It says clearly–they were not afraid of the king and his edict. Their actions were deliberate because for whatever reason, they felt (by faith) that God had a plan for Moses’ life.
I challenge you to read this week about the lives of ‘the ancients’ that are commended in Romans 11 with a new understanding. Don’t read the passages thinking about how you would’ve felt or how they must’ve felt (which I think is our tendency.) Re-read the actions of the ancients with the renewed understanding that their acts were deliberate acts of faith. They were certain of God’s promises. They were not sure of themselves but rather sure of the promises of their Heavenly Father.