IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

By Faith, They Followed God's Will Above All

Date: Jul. 19, 2022

Passage

Hebrews 11:17-28 (ESV)

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 11:26

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

It did not make sense when God told Abraham to offer his promised son Isaac as a sacrifice. Such a command was against everything he had believed in God. However, he believed in the Almighty Creator God who was above and beyond his understanding. He passed the test by absolutely trusting and obeying God's words (19).

Isaac and Jacob blessed their children according to God's will, sometimes against their preference and human values (20, 21). Joseph was promoted to an important position in Egypt. But he showed his true hope to enter the promised land with God's chosen people when he gave burial instructions when his end was near (22).

Moses chose to go through hardship with God's people rather than being recognized as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. It may have been a foolish decision in the eyes of the world. But he valued the reward in heaven above the treasures in Egypt and longed to be rewarded by God rather than pleasing the king (26). Then he led the Israelites to follow God's instructions when the destroyer took the lives of all firstborn of Egypt (28).

Prayer: Prayer: Father, I learn that you are in control of the world in your good plan. Please help me to obey your will by faith and be able to see your great plan unfold. Help me to be useful in your work by faith.

One Word: One Word: Trust God above any other idea

Daily Bread

A Satanic Threat

2 Kings 18:17-37

Key Verse: 18:36

But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king’s command was, “Do not answer him.”

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