Stepping Out

We are all encouraged to stay home with this recent pandemic. We’re not encouraged to step out of our homes much, but I’m going to go out on a limb and encourage us metaphorically step out in faith.

I would venture to say we’ve all heard of Peter’s big adventure of stepping out in faith by taking that step out on the water. Although he eventually sank, which resulted in Jesus calling him out on his lack of faith, he still took that initial step.

There are several examples of people stepping out in faith in the Bible we may not think about as much for taking that step.

Rahab let down her scarlet rope:

Rahab used a rope to signify her faith. This gives new meaning to the phrase, ‘her faith was hanging by a thread.’

By letting this cord down to free the Israelite spies and tying it in her window, she and her whole family was saved. The reason she did this? “...for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Joshua 2:11

She had faith.

Abraham lifted his knife:

By lifting his knife over his son’s sacrificial body, Abraham showed that he had faith in God to provide.

“Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” Genesis 22:10.

Why was he ok with this seemingly unreasonable request? “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.” Genesis 22:8

He had faith.

David had a slingshot and 5 stones: David picked up 5 stones from the ground and a took his slingshot in hand to face his literal giant. Why face this outwardly impossible task?

The answer comes in David’s response to this giant and his overgrown ego. “David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel‬ ‭17:45‬

He had faith. ‭

The Bible is filled with examples of people and their faith in the one true God and their many ways of showing their faith. But I want to end with one last woman who expressed her faith by literally taking one step at a time. Her name is Ruth.

Ruth and her footsteps: After the death of her husband and father-in-law, Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi wanted to return home to her people and she told Ruth to turn back to her home. Ruth’s response was this,

“Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. So the two of them continued on their journey. Ruth‬ ‭1:16-19‬ ‭

All Ruth could offer was one step of faith at a time. She continued on her journey and stepped out in faith to Naomi’s God, which was now her God.

Why did she take those steps on an unknown journey to a foreign land?

She had faith.

I’m like Ruth and all I can offer sometimes is just one step at a time. I don’t know what my future may hold. My journey up ahead is long, unknown and scary, but I have to keep taking one faithful step at a time toward my God.

We all face are facing an uncertain and scary future right now. Keep looking ahead and getting those faithful steps in.

Ruth’s journey of faith lead her to a life of peace, happiness, and triumph for not only her but for the world. She was the great-grandma of that little boy David who picked up those rocks to face the giant, who’s descendant many years later was born as the Savior of the world. Funny how faith works out that way. Faith in God’s providential hand.

I think my faith may be a culmination of a scarlet rope that trusts in God’s safety and deliverance, a knife that I hold up to show my faith in God’s provisions, 5 stones and a slingshot that assures me that nothing is impossible with God, and my own faithful steps that lead me to trust in God’s guidance and enables me to walk by faith and not by sight.

What enables me and you to do that?

She/he (Insert name here) has faith.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭