WHAT CAN YOU KNOW? Devotion 4 of 32 Without belaboring the point, there is a higher form of knowledge. Its foundation is not human reason, evidence that can be perceived by the natural senses, or the wisdom of this world. There is a knowledge that is appropriated by faith – faith that apprehends what the God of truth has revealed. – Tomorrow:
Faith is not unreasonable, even though it appears to be so to those who are at home in this present evil world. That is what has moved some to refer to "blind faith" – a purely philosophical expression, and wholly without any Scriptural support. Actually, faith IS seeing, and is solid "evidence" and "substance" (Heb 11:1). There is no such thing as "blind faith." That is why faith yields very real knowledge – knowledge that can support the soul; bring confidence and assurance to the heart, and produce unparalleled boldness.
Faith includes a higher form of rationale, and has its own way of reasoning. It simply does not think after the manner of the flesh – but it does reason and think in a spiritually logical manner. In faith, the boundaries of logic are different from those found in the "natural man" (1 Cor 2:14). A few examples will serve to confirm this point.
ABRAHAM
The first man in Scripture said to have believed God, is Abraham (Gen 15:6). How did faith move him to reason? There are two remarkable incidents that unfold for us the manner in which faith thinks – what it sees as reasonable.
The first incident relates to having a son. When the Lord confirmed Abraham would have the promised son through Sarah, he was too old and she was barren. There is not a physician in the world who would affirm the possibility of such a birth. In fact, experience shouted that it could not be done. But that is not how faith reasoned. Thus it is written, "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (Rom 4:19-21). Faith moved Abraham to think and to reason, but not after the manner of the world.
The second occasion relates to the Lord's command that Abraham offer up his only son Isaac, as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2). Flesh would see this as an unreasonable request, for God had previously promised the world would be blessed through this seed (Gen 22:17-18). How will faith reason in the face of the Divine requirement to sacrifice Isaac? We are told precisely how the patriarch reasoned about this. "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. (Heb 11:17-19). Although the conclusion Abraham reached was not technically correct, he reasoned after a godly manner, knowing God would resolve the dilemma – and He did!
ISRAEL
The Scriptures say of Israel, "By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned" (Heb 11:29). When confronting a great Sea, faith reasoned that the people could pass through it on dry ground. There was no tangible basis for such a conclusion – in fact, it contradicted all human experience. Yet, convinced by their faith, the Israelites moved in an orderly manner through the Red Sea, thinking in a manner nature does not allow.
Again it is said of Israel, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days" (Heb 11:30). There is no natural law that would lead a person to conclude that marching around the walls of Jericho for seven days, then shouting and blowing trumpets, would cause them to fall "down flat" (Josh 6:20). No previous experience could confirm the possibility of such a thing. The laws of physics could not support such a notion. But faith reasoned it could be done, and thus "by faith the walls of Jericho fell down."
DAVID
When he was but a lad, David went to bring his brothers some food when they were on the battlefield. He found they, together with the army of Israel, were in the midst of a military crisis. A blustering giant nearly ten feet tall was challenging them, and he was a seasoned warrior. Fear had gripped the entire army. How will faith respond to a situation like that? How will it reason? David looked at the giant, named Goliath, and was not impressed by his size, strength, or agility. Contrary to the thinking of tenured military men, this is how he thought. "And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? . . . Is there not a cause? . . . Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine . . . Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine . . . Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands" (1 Sam 17:26-47). The outcome confirmed his thinking was sound!
The things this series of devotions will affirm can be known will not appear reasonable to the carnal mind. Sometimes, the carnal mind is a church mind – one that has been schooled in religious philosophy. But the objections that such a mind-set raises are only puffs of defiling smoke. If you have faith, it will confirm the truth of these things to your heart.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to think in a godly manner – to be moved by faith, not mere human reasoning.