Do you remember God’s conversation with Abraham in His promise, referenced particularly in the NLT version for emphasis on the message?
Genesis 13:14-15 (NLT) [14] After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. [15] I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.”
Now I want you to put this phrase “LOOK AS FAR AS YOU CAN SEE” in block letters in your mind and see how God was inviting our father Abraham to venture and stretch his vision.
And this is so characteristic of our God, in that, replete in Scripture, you see Him addressing men almost as if to challenge them to look at situations from His sovereign view, which we all agree is by faith.
This aspect of viewing situations through the lens of faith is captured vividly in the NIV version
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) [1] Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
“The assurance of things not seen” indicates a very bold trust and total reliance on God and His capabilities, which I believe is exactly what God is seeking. Men who can trust Him beyond their current situations and dare to ask in belief that He’s able to answer.
No wonder the angel of God that visited Abraham was perplexed when Sarah laughed in disbelief and asked:
Genesis 18:14 (NIV) “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
In another place, you see God speaking to the prophet Jeremiah beginning with this statement:
Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV) “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Sincerely, all I can sense at the moment is more like God in His sovereignty asking us to dare Him in faith and believe that He can deliver on the premise of His Word.
It is interestingly audacious if you look at it, but if you trace the story of Abraham, you see God taking him outside to view the stars and paint him a picture of how far He’s willing to take him if only he believed:
Genesis 15:5 (AMP) [5] And the Lord brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.”
Can you see how audaciously visionary He wanted Abraham to be when He said, “if you are able to count the stars” 🤔 So you see — God was willing to do more than Eliezer, his chief servant, whom Abraham thought would inherit his properties. He was willing to do even more than Ishmael, who wasn’t part of the actual promise but came from the slave girl… but a son of Sarah’s own womb would bring the promise of a generation of descendants too many to number.
Maybe now you’ll understand what gave St. Paul the audacity to say:
Ephesians 3:20 (NIV) [20] Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
God is able to do… always has… and will always be able to “exceed.”
Now, not to get so excited and miss out on one core of my message: It’s important to point out that Paul added, “according to the power at work in us.” And that power is faith in God.
Not to forget:
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
And elsewhere it was recorded in Paul’s letter to the Romans:
Romans 4:3 (KJV) [3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
So now we can see that Abraham’s faith made him righteous and also obtained for him the promise that was seemingly impossible to human eyes.
That’s how God wants us to approach Him — in faith. Because, like I said earlier, to receive and view from God’s sovereign position, we must view it through the lens of faith, as it was recorded of Abraham further down the chapter:
Romans 4:19-20 (NIV) [19] Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. [20] Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.
And so, our faith is predicated on total dependency on God, so it’s very clear that He alone did it, and takes the glory. Because let me share a little secret you may not have noticed: God’s not about to share His glory with you. Doubt me? Read what He told the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah 42:8 (KJV) [8] I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
So yes — He’s able to do, and wants to do, more than you’re asking… but you must believe in faith.
