December 23, 2022
Sometimes, the results of “faith” require other people.
Hebrews 11:12 states, “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born
descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable
grains of sand by the seashore.” [ESV]
In English we rarely pay attention to conjunctions unless
they are missing. The conjunction that begins this verse connects the previous
verse, stating Sarah’s faith which enabled her to have a child, with Abraham’s
descendants. The Greek word is “dio” and carries with it the weight of “cause.”
The best way to understand this is BECAUSE of Sarah’s faith (cooperating with
Abraham’s faith), Abraham had “descendants as many as the stars in heaven.”
Stop and look at that conjunction again. “Therefore…”
Because of SARAH’s faith, Abraham was given multiple descendants. It takes two
to make a baby. Or does it?
Let’s do that time travel thing we did yesterday. 2,000
years after Sarah’s story we find Mary and Joseph “betrothed.” The Greek word
is understood to mean “engaged” in the Gospel of Luke, however, in Matthew the
same word is translated “married.”
Put into a social and moral bind over Mary being pregnant,
we read, “And her
husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to
divorce her quietly.” [Matthew 1:19
ESV] According to Jewish law, at that time, Mary’s seeming infidelity was just
cause for her execution. If Joseph had pressed charges publicly, then Mary
would have died and we would not have the Christmas story.
Joseph is then given an explanation and an order, “But as he
considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife,
for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” [Matthew 1:20 ESV] Joseph obeys (see verse 24).
One’s faith can aid or hinder another person. About Jesus’
home town, “He
was unable to do many miracles there because of their disbelief.” [Matthew
13:58 CEB] Imagine that, the God that spoke the universe into existence being
limited by human disbelief.
Fast-forward another 2,000 years. What is your faith helping
or your lack of faith hindering?
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