The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Hebrews 11:8-10, “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

There’s far more to be said about Abraham that you want to read here. Almost everything he did was by faith. To begin with, Abram (that was his earlier name) lived in Ur of the Caldees. He was a worshipper of the moon goddess, when the LORD God called him to leave his fields and his religion –everything!—and follow Him to a place Abram had never known. Interestingly, there was no objection to doing exactly what he was told. Are we that faithful toward the LORD? What would you do if the LORD were to instruct you to move across the country, or even across the world? Remember, He’s not telling you where, He’s just saying “follow Me.”

He resided in a strange land, living like a foreigner, asking nothing, just obeying! Much later he would become the father of Isaac; and Isaac would become the father of Jacob. His greatest known act of faith occurred when the LORD told him to take his son, Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice. Isaac was a grown man at the time, and he did not object to being the sacrifice. What a glorious pre-picturing of our LORD Jesus, who offered Himself upon the Cross for our sins. Isaac, however, was spared. The LORD staid the hand of Abraham, and a ram was offered in place of Isaac. The LORD told Abraham that this was a test of his faith. Thankfully, Abraham passed the test and became the father of the faithful. The Nation of Israel exists today because of Abraham’s faithfulness.

As believers, we are often moved by the Holy Spirit to go to places where we’ve never been. Often, too, we live among people who are foreign to our culture and language. Worst of all, we’re often called to live apart from all we’ve ever known, even friends and family. If and when that call comes to your life, remember Abraham! There was no mail service, no Internet, no cell phone, no contact

with those left behind –only the LORD. But, when you have the LORD, the Creator and Controller of the Universe, what is there to fear? Trust His Word; trust the Holy Spirit. That “He will never leave you nor forsake you” is His promise (1 Chron. 28:20).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”