No servant of God in the Bible had more to complain about than Abraham. He was promised the land of Canaan for an inheritance, but when he went out he “did not know where he was going” (Heb. 11:8). Not only that, when Abraham came into the promised land God “didn’t give him an inheritance in it—not even a foot of ground” (Acts 7:5). Figure that out! John Calvin observed that Abraham must surely have felt deceived or betrayed. In a word: Abraham, more than any character in Holy Scripture, must head the list of those who felt that God made no sense!
Yet more difficulties followed. When Abraham was about eighty-five and his wife Sarah was seventy-five, God promised him a son from his own body. Since Sarah was now barren, this surely made no sense! But Abraham believed God’s promise and his faith was counted for righteousness (Gen. 15:6), this being Paul’s chief illustration for the teaching of justification by faith alone.
But there is still more to tell! When Sarah didn’t get pregnant, she persuaded Abraham to make good God’s promise by sleeping with her servant Hagar (Gen. 16). Abraham, therefore, assumed that when Hagar conceived and had the male child Ishmael, this must have been what God had in mind all along. Wrong! God revealed to Abraham and Sarah that she would conceive after all—that Isaac was coming and that Isaac, not Ishmael, was the child of promise. Can you blame Abraham for being confused?
The Promise and the Oath
I had a vivid supernatural experience on October 31, 1955. What I saw was more real to me than anything I ever saw with my physical eyes or heard with my physical ears. I was driving on old U.S. 41 in Tennessee between Monteagle and Nashville. Suddenly, Jesus appeared before me, praying for me. I felt overwhelmed. I was fascinated that he was positioned at the right hand of the Father. I could not tell what Jesus was saying, but never in my lifetime—before or since—had I felt so loved. I wept and watched. I do not know how I drove for the next eighty miles.
Over an hour later, as I passed through Smyrna, I distinctly heard Jesus say to the Father, “He wants it.” I heard the Father reply, “He can have it.” At that precise moment I felt a warmth in my chest and a peace and joy in my heart that surpassed anything I have ever—ever— felt. I saw the physical face of Jesus for about a minute. Then it diminished. I had no idea at that time what had happened to me. It all made no sense.
What I do know is that my theology underwent a major surgery—I would call it a personal paradigm shift. By sundown that very day, I had learned two indisputable things from this experience: (1) I was eternally and unconditionally saved (which went completely against everything I had been taught); and (2) I was sovereignly chosen (which I had known nothing about). For days I wondered (I am almost ashamed to say) if I was the only person to have this kind of experience. Had I come to believe something new?
My memory and details of that experience are as real today as if it had happened yesterday. This vision is more real than the Nashville skyline Louise and I see from our condo every day. Ironically, we now live on U.S. 41 in Nashville, overlooking Nissan Stadium, where the Titans play. But it took a long time—years— before I could say what Jesus’s words “He wants it . . . he can have it” meant. I now know that “it” is the oath as described in Hebrews 6:16–17, where the writer says that the “oath ends every dispute.” Hebrews 6:18 also refers to “two unchangeable things,” i.e., the promise and the oath. Finally, the author calls “it” the “rest” in Hebrews 4:1 and 4:10.
The “oath” is called by other names in the Bible: “the rest,” “inheritance,” and “full assurance.” The Westminster Confession also refers to “infallible assurance” not belonging to the “essence of faith.” I take this to mean that you can be a good Christian without experiencing unbroken assurance. This type of assurance comes pretty close—I think—as a fulfilling reward to those who don’t give up even during a season in which God seems to make no sense. It is a reward worth waiting for.
Abraham’s Finest Hour
Let’s get back to Abraham and his greatest challenge.
“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Gen. 22:2)
I find it impossible to put myself in Abraham’s shoes in this moment. How did Abraham’s trust in God—what did he see or feel?—give him the willingness to sacrifice Isaac? Abraham’s actions recorded for us in Scripture have been questioned and commented on for ages. We only know that he did what God told him to do.
Risking everything that was promised to him, Abraham could not have known what would follow. Nobody was there to witness his actions—God alone was his witness.
Nevertheless, Abraham obeyed. And that was his finest hour.
What followed Abraham’s finest hour was a big deal. The writer of Hebrews wants us to know just how big a deal it was for God to swear an oath to Abraham. Whereas one swears an oath by something “greater”—whether it be by the Holy Bible or something that seems sacred (one may say, “I swear by my mother’s grave”)—God could not find anything greater. Therefore, he swore “by himself” (Heb. 6:13):
I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command. (Gen. 22:17–18)
The letter to the Hebrews refers to Abraham having experienced God’s oath. The oath came to him after he became utterly willing—indeed, he was in the process of sacrificing Isaac as a burnt offering. Receiving God’s oath was Abraham’s reward for his obedience.
God’s Promises Are Worth Trusting
The moment when God swore an oath to Abraham was ten thousand times more powerful to Abraham than my experience on U.S. 41 was to myself. Furthermore, Abraham was over one hundred years old, but I was only nineteen—which I find embarrassing to say (if I am totally honest). Why did God give me this vision? I honestly do not know. But I do know one thing for sure: I had done nothing before, nor have I done anything ever since to deserve this blessing. At the same time, the experience of God swearing an oath is promised to ALL believers, and this blessing has happened to millions all over the world.
Abraham would never ever doubt God’s promise again. Had he doubted God’s word before the oath came? Possibly. From Genesis 12 through Genesis 21, God spoke at different times to Abraham—again and again. But he only spoke by promise—promise after promise. Finally, for the first time in Abraham’s life, God swore an oath to him. What does this mean? Answer: the oath ends all dispute. An oath is more convincing than a promise. Whereas both a promise from God and an oath from God are equally true, the oath removes all doubt. After God swore an oath to Abraham, you could say that he was “set.” Never again would Abraham need more convincing—the oath did it. Nothing, indeed, tops experience over argument. It is like seeing the Swiss Alps rather than viewing pictures of them.
Times will come in your life when God doesn’t make sense. You probably already have had some of those experiences. But I want to encourage you that in those times you can believe God even more. Let Abraham be our guide into believing that God’s promises are worth trusting even in the midst of confusing times.
Adapted from Their Finest Hour: 30 Biblical Figures Who Pleased God at Great Cost by R.T. Kendall, foreword By: O.S. Hawkins.
In today’s world, it’s easy to fall prey to the approval addiction—seeking the praise of others instead of focusing on pleasing God. In Their Finest Hour, best-selling author R.T. Kendall highlights 30 Bible characters who put their trust in God despite their moments of self-effacing vulnerability. Through these stories, we can learn valuable lessons about faith and trusting God even when it isn’t popular or easy to do so.
You’ll learn the importance of sticking to your convictions, letting God be in control, and trusting His plan for your life through stories of biblical figures, including:
- Leah, who experienced delayed significance.
- Rahab, who saw a better future with God’s people.
- Habakkuk, who was willing to wait on the Lord.
Their Finest Hour is for ordinary Christians looking to deepen their faith, their understanding of the Bible, and their relationship with God. Relatable stories and personal anecdotes make this book an invaluable resource for pastors, teachers, small groups, and believers seeking inspiration and guidance in their spiritual journey.
An enlightening and engaging exploration of moments when ordinary people achieved greatness in the eyes of God, Their Finest Hour will inspire you to seek the true honor that comes from God alone.
Their Finest Hour: 30 Biblical Figures Who Pleased God at Great Cost is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
R.T. KENDALL was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London, England, for twenty-five years. He was educated at Trevecca Nazarene University (AB), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Oxford University (DPhil) and has written a number of books, includingTotal Forgiveness, Holy Fire, andWe've Never Been This Way Before.
