Scripture References: Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 13:1-12; Hebrews 11:6; Hebrews 12:2
Sermon Notes:
Intro: Continuing our series on faith, today we explore "Seeing by Faith." This isn't blind optimism, but the crucial ability to believe and internally visualize God's promises before they happen externally, even when circumstances look bleak. It's seeing with the heart what the eyes cannot yet perceive. Abraham's life gives us a stark contrast between seeing by sight and seeing by faith.
Key Points:
- Seeing by Sight: Anxious Abraham (Gen 12:10-20):
- Famine Hits: A severe lack tests Abraham's trust in God's promised provision.
- Orphan Reaction: Instead of trusting God, Abraham immediately flees to Egypt (moves away from the place of testing).
- Fear Takes Over: Worrying about his safety (lack of protection) due to Sarah's beauty, he devises a deceitful plan.
- Using Others: He tells Sarah to lie, sacrificing her safety for his own gain and protection, acquiring wealth while she's taken by Pharaoh. This is the fruit of fear and not seeing by faith.
- God's Scandalous Grace (Gen 12:17-20):
- Despite Abraham's utter failure and selfishness, God intervenes.
- God afflicts Pharaoh (who acted more honorably) to protect Sarah and uphold His promise to Abraham.
- Abraham is rebuked by Pharaoh but leaves unharmed with Sarah and all his acquired wealth. This displays God's undeserved, covenant-keeping grace – a picture of the Gospel.
- Seeing by Faith: Grace-Fueled Abraham (Gen 13:1-12):
- Return & Worship: Abraham returns, calls on God, likely overwhelmed by the grace he received despite his failure.
- New Conflict: Strife arises between his herdsmen and Lot's over limited resources – another pressure test.
- Transformed Response: Changed by grace, Abraham doesn't grasp or demand his rights (God promised the land to him). He acts generously, offering Lot first choice of the land.
- The Shift: Tasting God's grace made God Himself (His presence, faithfulness) more valuable than the promise ("the land"). Security in God's love freed him to be open-handed.
Conclusion: Seeing by faith is fundamentally about trusting God's character and His grace, especially when facing lack or fear. Abraham's failure shows our natural tendency toward self-preservation. But experiencing God's scandalous, undeserved grace transformed him, enabling generosity and trust. When we truly taste God's grace, He becomes our sufficiency, freeing us from anxiously grasping for worldly security ("the land").
Call to Action:
- Identify your "famines" – areas of lack, fear, or testing.
- Recognize any "orphan" reactions – moving away from God, controlling, using others, self-protecting.
- Receive God's scandalous grace afresh. Remember He is faithful even when we are faithless.
- Ask God for the gift of spiritual sight – to see His promises and His presence by faith.
- Practice letting go: Release anxious control over circumstances, reputations, finances, or people. Trust God and feast on His grace.
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