Tuesday, October 18, 2016
SCRIPTURE ALONE: THE PATRIARCHS
Some might scoff at the notion that Israel's founding fathers could have operated by Scripture alone since they didn't have the written Scriptures yet. However, even though they didn't have the Bible as we know it today, they still lived as Christians by the power of God's Word.
Abraham was first given God's promise that He would be the "father of the many nations." This was a promise given by God's direct word to Abraham, and that's what Abraham had to trust. He didn't have a stunning track record of righteousness to fall back onto for hope nor did he have every detail of his life planned out. All he had was the promise of His God, given to Him by words. The same applies to Isaac and Jacob, who likewise received the same promise.
Later on in Israel's history a promise was given to Moses to rescue the descendants of Abraham out of slavery. Moses would be the tool that God would use to confirm His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses' mission would operate the very same way their lives did. He was tasked with keeping the children of Israel focused on the Lord's Word.
When the promise of a homeland was finally fulfilled, it wasn't Moses leading the people. His assistant, Joshua, took leadership, but his strength and guide remained the same. At the end of it all Joshua reminded the people, "...you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14).
It was Scripture alone for the patriarchs. God used His Word to strengthen them throughout their journeys and to renew them through the hope of the eternal promise of heaven, a homeland which we all share as believers. As you continue your journey here on this earth, God will guide you by the same source, Scripture alone.
