When faced with seemingly impossible difficulties by Alan Martin

When faced with seemingly impossible difficulties and circumstances that from our perspective offer no hope or good, we can respond one of two ways. We can either "give place to the devil" by murmuring against God and others, or "hope against hope" like Abraham, who "gave glory to God." The 600,000 + men who disbelieved "gave place to the devil" and became loathed by God as an "unbelieving generation who did not know My ways and always erred in their hearts." Abraham, on the other hand, became known as "the friend of God" and our "father in the faith."

The unbelieving generation "gave place to the devil" and became accusers of God and Moses - they were rejected and died the death their own mouths confessed.
Abraham was strengthened by faith, giving glory to God and after patient continuance in well doing, received the promise - He received what his mouth confessed!

We will inevitably follow one of these two examples. If we abandon our hope by an evil heart of unbelief, we will "give place to the devil" and incur the place of wrath intended for him and his angels. If we are strengthened by faith, the very substance of hope, we will "hope against hope, give glory to God" and receive the promised inheritance that all the righteous will receive.

Dear brothers and sisters, I exhort all of us, let us purpose not to give place to the devil but to give glory to God.

Those who give place to the devil will receive that same place back to them; all who give God glory will receive His glory back to them.

Just reading through Hebrews 3 and 4 and we were discussing how much we are exhorted to hold on and persevere until the end in faith and not have an unbelieving disobedient heart. Also how unbelief and disobedience are the same thing and a choice that results in God's judgement. We can believe and enter into the promised rest. Then I read this article that confirmed the conclusions we came to. Thank you for the confirmation!

The thing is that to persevere and hold on to faith is NOT down to our strength or will power, but the weakest of Saints can cling to Christ and depend on Him. This is what we are exhorted to do in Hebrews 4:14 to 16.....

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

We have no excuse in not continuing in faith, because it depends on Him, not us. We are invited to come BOLDLY to the throne of grace for help, to a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. That is why unbelief and disobedience are so evil, because there is reason for us not trusting the Lord, apart from pride and wilful sin.