Читать книгу Windows to the Heart of People of Faith - Chris Anianwu - Страница 4

We shall concentrate on people like Joseph, Abraham, Moses, Job and a few others to drive home a few points. A great example for our generation is the young man Joseph, but to penetrate his inner core is a little difficult. He did not say many things when he was in the ring of fire. He went through the situations that took him to his destiny with few words. Thus, he revealed so little that can allow us entry into that great empire, but the little he said and did opened some tiny windows through which we can see into his mind:

•His response to his master’s wife to disobey God showed us something about his spiritual level in the ugly situation he found himself, Gen. 39:7-10.

•His interpretation of the Baker’s and the King’s cupbearer’s dreams gave credence to the first point, Gen 40: 7-23. Despite his condition he remain faithful to God.

•Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream was the climax of one who waited for God’s time. We know that one of the hardest things to do is to wait for God’s time. If you have not been there, you may not understand the last phrase.

•Joseph’s word’s after he revealed himself to his brethren spoke volumes about him and about his new perception of God. We are talking about where he said that God took him to Egypt for a higher purpose. In effect, he was saying that his brothers did not send him to Egypt, God did. From that stand point, he could see God’s big picture as opposed to his ‘judgment’ if he had the privilege to judge from the time he was sold or when he was thrown into the dungeon.

•What he told his brother’s after the death of their father tells us that he had forgiven them from his heart of heart.

•The last but not the least was his prophecy that God would take Israel back to their home – to the land He promised their father Abraham. That exceeded everything he said. Notwithstanding everything Joseph went through, he hung unto the promise God made their father Abraham without faltering.

The same can be said about Abraham. The things he said and did give us some clues as to how he felt as a man of faith in those times when he was at the lowest point in his life:

•The first time God appeared to Abraham, he did not express any personal views. He simply said “Here I am,” and he followed God not knowing where he was going or how the journey would end. That was faith.

•The second time God went calling, He went with more mouth watering promises. Again, Abraham accepted the promises with yes and amen.

•Before God called again, Abraham had waited for a long time but God had not given him the ultimate promise. Sure, God blessed him mightily with wealth but if he was going to be the father of many nations; if he was going to posses the land of Canaan, he should have an heir to the land. At that time in history, a father without an heir was considered worthless. This view still lurks in the hearts of some people even among some Christians - in this jet age. This point can help us understand the dire situation Abraham found himself in when God took ages and ages to send the promised child. At the third visit Abraham opened up.

•When God told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the long awaited heir, Abraham did not protest or question God. He simply left with the child to do as God had commanded him. That told God that Abraham had come of age in Him. At that point, Abraham knew the Lord he was serving. It was n longer a feeling, a thought or a presumption.

In the subsequent chapters, we will say a few things on some of the points we raised above and more but even at this point, we should know that the people of faith stood out in the crowd because they neither went with the crowd nor moved in sync with common sense. Common sense may sound nice but it does not always hold the ultimate fact. Common sense is so common that it is not even the first step to the truth. One and only one thing decided the course people of faith would take: “What does God say?” To them, general opinions did not stand and what the experts said did not exist. Whatever they perceived God was saying became their command - logic, the laws, theories, hypotheses and great ideas of the great could wait. This helped them prove God in such personal ways that even though they are decades dead, what they proved about God still resonate with us today.

Let me quickly add that what the enemies that were fighting to decimate Joseph’s dream did not know was that by sucking him into the dungeon where he could never have a chance to attain his dreams, they simply placed him a step away from it. I hope somebody understands this. From that vintage point, Joseph did not have to fight or work for it. Therefore, when the devil begins to toss you to and fro like a football in the heat of a game, all you need do is live the life and remain focused. However, you must know that it needs great effort from you because it may not be a smooth ride. When the apostle Paul and his mates were in the ship that was storm-tossed for many days, they did not see the sun nor did they have some food. Before they were saved, the ship had to fall apart and everyone had to swim for dear life.

On the other hand, God’s dealing with you may be a direct hit ‘below the belt’ – right from the Lord. That sounds strange, doesn’t it? An example can give us a window into this idea. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, He made Abraham realize the full impact of what He was asking for, Gen. 22: 1-2. God made Abraham know what Isaac meant to him:

-Your only child

-Whom you love

-There is no other

-I need him -

-The most important point is that God did not make the request until He made sure that Abraham had sent Ishmael away.

I did not fully comprehend what God wanted Abraham to do by telling him what Isaac meant to him. Note that Abraham did not say a word for or against the request. Abraham’s silence spoke volumes. He had walked so long and so close to God that by now, he knew that God could not be unfaithful. It was not a fun stuff. Abraham could not understand it but because it came from God, he did not hesitate to carry it out. Yeah, when you have myriads of questions for God; when you are boiling over with frustration, God knows. The best bet may be to keep mute. We may not understand what He is doing but He knows what He is doing.

The apostle Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times when Jesus was in the hands of the Jews; when he was literally in the hot seat. After the death and resurrection, Jesus never mentioned that incident again, for ever. We remember it so well as if it were yesterday but to Jesus, it was as if it never happened. This is one awesome thing about God and forgiveness whenever we sincerely repent of our sins. When Jonah felt that God made a mistake by saving the Nenivites, God did not hang him. Let us not forget that Peter had a great sense of remorse for denying his Master. What we are saying in effect is that if we fail to learn from the pitfalls of our forerunners, we are bound by the law f negligence or carefree attitude to repeat their mistakes and sure, face the consequences.

We pay attention to our teachers and mentors perhaps, because they have been where we are. Many times, we achieve more than they did because of motivation, opportunities, obedience to their instructions, innovation or determination. Above all, we learn from their mistakes and draw from their wealth of knowledge. Conversely, if we fail to make good use of the seeds they plant in us, we may remain lower than they are. One of the reasons why many people of faith went through terrible times was not for their own glory but to show us the way. We must make use of whatever lessons we can learn from them or we become losers - losers of the worst order because they might have suffered in vain as far as we are concerned. The choice is ours.