Genesis 15.
THERE are various measures of faith. We read of “little faith,” “great faith,” and the “full assurance of faith.” With “little faith” doubts are found associated: hence our Lord’s rebuke to Peter, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” But it is sweet to notice, that our blessed Lord, in this very remonstrance, does not pass by the “faith” of His servant because it is “little;” no, it is “faith,” however weak, however feeble, and inestimably precious too, because Himself is its object. Thus He most carefully separates the precious fruit of the Spirit from the vile workings of unbelief which the flesh mingles with it. And we may remark also, how ready our Lord always was for such gracious work, and that He never refused, but most heartily welcomed and encouraged, any proportion of faith, however feeble. “Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief,” was not too mean a cry to reach the compassionate ear of Jesus, as its results proved. If the unclean leper had questionings about the willingness of Jesus to cleanse him, and could only count upon His ability to do so, when he said, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean;” even this appeal called forth an abundant response: “Jesus put forth His hand, and touched Him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matt. 8:2, 32And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2‑3)). And so, again, when the blind men followed Him, they seemed little able to reckon on more than the power of Jesus to open their eyes; yet His gracious ear was open to their cry, and immediately they received their sight (Matt. 9:2828And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. (Matthew 9:28)).
And it strikes me we do well to ponder these things, and lay to heart the ready welcome, and the sure results of trust in God. And though our joy in the Lord, and success in service, will be according to our faith, yet, the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, is unto all and upon all them that believe, whatever the measure of faith may be. In the history of Abraham (Gen. 15) we are furnished with not only a striking example of the difference between faith and the assurance of faith, but also with the blessed fact, that though Abraham’s persuasion and enjoyment of the blessings of God increased with his faith and spiritual understanding, nevertheless that his standing before God as a righteous person was connected with his faith, even when it was so small that he lacked the assurance of it. The father of the faithful had, in the obedience of faith, looked at the stars of heaven, and received the testimony of God; and consequently, was at once brought into the blessed standing of grace: “He believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (vs. 6). But though the patriarch “believed” the word of Jehovah, yet he wanted the full persuasion of his own personal participation in the blessings―the “full assurance of faith” ― “Whereby,” said he, “shall I know that I shall inherit it”? (vs. 8). Very sweet and blessed it is to enjoy the full assurance of the gospel of the grace of God, but it is well to observe, that Abraham’s standing, as righteous before God, was not because of his assurance of faith, but because “he believed in the Lord:” which, like many other portions of Holy Scripture, shows us that “all who believe” (however large or small their measure of faith) “are justified from all things.” And, O beloved, how precious it is for any of the Lord’s household who mourn over their weakness of faith, distrustfulness, or doubt, to find here so clearly recorded the blessed doctrine of “righteousness without works,” and that as the portion of all believers, even of those who can exercise but a feeble measure of faith in the record God has given of His Son. The Apostle Paul, when treating of this subject, seeks to “comfort the feeble-minded, and support the weak,” by showing that righteousness was reckoned to Abraham when he was in uncircumcision; that is, that it was entirely of grace, and independent of ordinances or attainment of any kind (Rom. 4).
But Abraham sought of Jehovah the assurance of faith—he followed on to know the Lord: he desired an unquestioning, unstaggering persuasion of his personal interest in the blessings of grace― “Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” and in this, his example may well be followed. Abraham’s request was large, but the grace sought was not withheld. To him that hash shall be given. His desire was speedily granted; though, perhaps, like many in the present day, who say, “Lord, increase our faith,” he little thought what a process it would be needful for him to pass through ere he obtained it. If we would have a larger measure of the faith of the gospel, we must have an increased acquaintance with Him who is the alone Object of faith. Abraham, therefore, is at once referred to God’s sacrifice― “Take Me an heifer of three years old, and a turtle dove, and a young pigeon. And he took unto Him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another; but the birds divided he not” (vss. 9, 10). I say it was God’s sacrifice; the command was, “Take unto Me,” &c., and the patriarch regarded it as such in a spirit of reverence and worship, for “when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abraham drove them away” (vs. 11). And, surely, it is by an increasing knowledge of Him who is God’s Fellow, and God’s Sacrifice for sin, by basking in the beams of Immanuel’s love, by receiving divine instruction touching the glorious Person, worth, and work of the Great Mystery of godliness, that “little faith” grows into the “full assurance.” What lessons the Holy Ghost here opens to our souls! What simplicity, wisdom, power, grace, and glory are here manifest, in the response of the God of grace to the inquiry of Abraham, “Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” Do we not learn from this touching narrative, that the ministry of God to our souls is CHRIST, that the food and nourishment of our faith is the flesh and blood of CHRIST, that the glory of God is seen only in the face of JESUS CHRIST, and that our confidence in the “exceeding great and precious promises” will grow, just as a believing and spiritual understanding of CHRIST is cultivated and cherished by us. But while we do well to press forward, to grow in grace, to aim continually after deeper and still deepening conformity to Jesus, we should also earnestly seek after establishment and settlement of spirit in the blessed grace which counts righteousness for faith. Our experiences change, persons and things fail, and everything under the sun is vanity and vexation of spirit. JEHOVAH CHANGES NOT. In Him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. His covenant is everlasting; His promises are all in Christ yea, and in Him Amen: and the blood and righteousness of the Son of God, perpetual in its efficacy, and forever secure to those who trust in the Lord (Psa. 125:11<<A Song of degrees.>> They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. (Psalm 125:1)). May the Holy Ghost keep us close to Jesus, looking unto Him, waiting upon Him, learning of Him, delighting in Him, receiving from Him, that being melted by His unsearchable love, we may be moulded more and more into His blessed image!
I would say a word on the experience of Abraham while thus following on to know the Lord. Though God imputes righteousness to him, the patriarch does not always feel happy, not even when near the sacrifice. Let none imagine that the presence of God is only accompanied with peace and joy. It was not so with Abraham, even when he was reverentially guarding God’s sacrifice― “a deep sleep fell upon Abraham, and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him” ―a darkness, indeed, that was felt. There is nothing singular in this; for the nearer we approach “THE LIGHT” the more are the hidden things of darkness made manifest. In learning the majesty, wisdom, grace, holiness, and power of God, we discover the folly, hatefulness, sinfulness, and weakness of ourselves; and this, though humbling and painful, is nevertheless profitable experience. But it is experience: and I always desire to keep before my own soul that no feelings within can alter or affect a believer’s standing, as having the righteousness of faith. The sole object of faith is One outside ourselves, even Christ, who “is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” We have peace and joy in believing, though tribulation may be all around us. And sorrowful circumstances the patriarch was instructed to expect for his seed; they were to “be strangers in a strange land, and to be afflicted,” &c.; nevertheless, whatever be the path, the circumstances, or the inward feelings, the unchangeable word of consolation concerning the father of the faithful was, “he believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness.”
“Without one thought that’s good to plead,
Oh, what could shield me from despair,
But this, though I am vile indeed,
The Lord my righteousness is there?”
The smoking furnace and the burning lamp, which passed between the pieces of the sacrifice, chewed forth God’s trial and estimate of the value of His own offering for sin; and the gracious declaration, that “the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham,” plainly implied His savor of rest in that sacrifice, and His acceptance in the Beloved of His believing “friend.” It is well also to observe, that this is followed with a detailed account of the inheritance God gave to Abraham. And now I presume the “horror of great darkness” is dissipated by Faith’s view of the covenant love, faithfulness, and power of the God of promise. How blessed to perceive the unfailing security of the believer in Christ, forever settled and established “through the blood of the everlasting covenant!” O that we may “abide in Him, that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming!”