Isaiah 50:7-8 – Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.
There are many times in life when, through no fault of our own, we are at risk of being disgraced in some very real ways. It can be that we are under attack because of our testimonies, trials in our lives, etc. However, God will not allow His children, who love and obey Him, to be disgraced. We are assured that we have His help.
I recently wrote an article posted 5/9/10 on one of my other blogs (www.thepathoffaith.blogspot.com), titled "God is a Yasad". In that article I mentioned that our God, by His very nature, as well as by His actions, is a deliverer/rescuer. He loves us and promises to rescue us. His Word promises that He is a very present help in our time of need (Psalm 46:1). It also says that the Lord is with us so we don't have to be afraid (Psalm 118:6). And, because we belong to Him, we have the victory (1 Cor. 15:57). In addition, God promises that He will not leave or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6). Be assured, God is with us, no matter what the situation, to protect and to reveal Himself to us, even in our most difficult hours.
When we go through seasons where life is on the edge, we must take that time as an opportunity to deliberately and wholeheartedly turn to God. By doing so, we turn away and say "NO" to ALL fears, anxieties, and thoughts of impending disgrace and ruin. If we don't do this, we will be overwhelmed and will succumb. I'm not diminishing the reality, seriousness, or enormity of such situations. However, this becomes the appointed hour in our lives to take a stand and refuse to look at the situation, circumstances and the seemingly "inevitable" failure that we face. Instead, we must only look to God. This is how we set our faces like flint. This is also the essence of faith.
Abraham is a wonderful example in this regard. In Genesis 15, God promises him a son and an heir, Isaac. Though Abraham's body was as good as dead and Sarah's womb was dead, he had faith that God would do exactly what He promised (Romans 4:19). Romans 4:18 says: "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…" Abraham refused to waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised (Romans 4:20-21).
The stakes were very high for Abraham. What a magnificent promise, yet seemingly so impossible to believe in, at least from a human point of view. Abraham had to choose what or who he would believe in - his fears or God. Abraham exercised some very real courage and chose to fully trust God and His promise, no matter how improbable hope may have seemed for his situation, at that time. By doing so, he set his face like flint against all doubt, fear and unbelief. He was absolutely undeterred in believing that God would be anything other than faithful to His Word. Because of his faith, Abraham received a very big reward. Not only did he receive a son and an heir, but his descendants are as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore (Hebrews 11:12).
Rather than weakening in his faith, Abraham's faith strengthened during this trial, according to Romans 4:20. This verse also says that he gave glory to God, meaning that he thanked and praised God for the promise, even before it was fulfilled. That is biblical faith! It is also the appointed way God has given all of us to obtain our victories. Psalm 50:14-15 says: "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me".
Just as Abraham was strengthened in his faith during his trial, we too can experience great victory in any situation, no matter how dire, by doing the same. When we do, we will see God do amazing things in our lives – things that will take us to a deeper level of blessing and bring greater glory to Him.
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