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Faith that Asks Questions

Words of Faith Final

Faith that Asks Questions
Words of Faith 3-17-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 15
    [2] But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" [3] And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."
    [4] 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.

       We sometimes think that the "journey of faith" is one without questions or doubts. Abram shows us otherwise. Abram had come a long way! He had left the security of home and family to go to a place he did not yet know. God had carried him through times of famine and trial, family conflict, and war. But the biggest hope he had was still not coming to pass... a baby.
       Abram and Sarai were not getting any younger! There was still no baby. How would a nation come from this? He had questions. He had doubts about the future.
       So Abram questioned God. Some would call this a sin. Others would label such "doubts" as a loss of faith. But in fact, questions are a part of faith! The truth is that the roadway of faith is paved with questions! The journey of faith is marked by road signs of doubt!
       I greatly love the character "Tevye" in "Fiddle on the Roof" because he so honestly portrays this genuine and honest walk of faith. Tevye never ever doubts that God is there, but he has more than a few questions for Him! Tevye's loving relationship with God is rich, full of questions about trivial and eternal things. He asks God why he is so poor and why his horse threw a shoe. He asks why terrible persecution had to come at such a lousy time… the day of his daughter's wedding. But Tevye never loses faith. He prays. He has questions, but they are things to talk out with God. He never ceases to trust that God is in charge and will be with them no matter where they are forced to travel or live. This is the real walk of faith.
        Abram could not see how a family would ever come from him and Sarai, but he believed God and credited it as righteousness. The Hebrew word for "believe" used here is a rich one. It means to be firm or faithful, trust or believe in a permanent way. In other words, Abram's faith was always deeper than the questions. Abram's faith was the bedrock underneath the questions.
        Abram's trust in God was permanent even if he could not see the promise that was before him! The book of Hebrews declares that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (11:1). Abram could not see the promise, shield, or reward, but he never stopped permanently trusting God.
        Have you had some questions for God lately? I sure have. Don't beat yourself up over having questions or even doubts about the future. Instead, trust God. Believe God permanently. Talk to God. Question God. But above all, know that He is God, and He is still very much in charge of our world and our lives.

        Lord, I have a few questions. Well, more than a few. Can I talk to You about them? In the meantime, I trust You with all that don't know and all that I can't see. You alone are God. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.