Fearless Faith And What If . . . ?

FEARLESS FAITH -- and What If . . . . . .?

I. ABRAHAM:

Believing the promise of many descendants;

Genesis 12:7; The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land."

Genesis 15:4-8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness. 7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." 8 But Abram said, "O Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I shall gain possession of it?"

What if Abram had stayed in the comfort of his life in Ur? Is it possible that all the history we know would not have happened?

II. JACOB:

Blessing Joseph’s sons:

Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob gave a blessing to the two sons of Joseph, when he was near to death; and gave God worship, supported by his stick. [BBE]

When we look at the blessing given by Jacob to his descendents, we see a remarkable fulfilment. What if he had not blessed them? Is it possible that they would not have known the same resultant blessings?

III. JOCHEBED:

Caring for Moses:

Exodus 2:2; When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months

Hebrews 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.

What if Jochebed had not protected the infant Moses? Would the Nation of Israel still be in slavery to Egypt?

IV. CALEB:

Advising to take the land of promise:

Numbers 13:30. Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

Numbers 14:6-9 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

What if Caleb had been unbelieving like the others, would they have not possessed the Promised Land for themselves? Would they have missed out on God’s best?

V. DAVID:

Striking down Goliath:

1 Samuel 17:37. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you."

1 Samuel 17:46&47 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands."

What if David had not trusted in the Lord to deliver Goliath into his hand? Would the Nation have ended up wiped out for ever?

VI. WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH:

Feeding Elijah:

1 Kings 17:13-16 Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’" 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.