Why were the people of God in the Old Testament lacking in faith?
Is it because faith comes from believing in Jesus?
Hebrews 4:1 - 16
NKJV - 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
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Asked April 13 2013
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Pattyann Oloughlin.
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Ben Ting
The story of Exodus amazes me always, and reminds me always that "seeing is not believing". I can't imagine someone who had gone thru what the Israelites did in Egypt with the 10 plagues, and witnessed the opening of the Red Sea...and saw GOD with their own eyes - well, at least God descending onto Mount Sinai in burning fire & dark clouds - and YET still failed to believe Him, what He had promised. That is, until I realised that Faith is a GIFT of God. Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God 1Cor 12:7-9 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit...
Mary Bolster
Not all people in the OT lacked faith. Hebrews 11 lists a number of OT testaments of faith, including Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and others. In my opinion, the reference in Hebrews 4:1 is to the Israelites who believed the bad reports from the spies who initially went into Canaan. God told them that because of their lack of faith they would not see the promised land. I also think we shouldn't be so hard on them - we have the whole scripture before us and still many do not trust in God or have faith in Jesus.
Diane Allen
The size of a mustered seed is very small,and in knowing this makes faith stronger for me.I have that faith that what ever God say he will or gonna do is done already. You have to believe in what he say in his word, for he will do it. Might not be when you want it ,but when you need it the most it will be there. When you think you can't take another step, he'll be there. I am new at this and I might not have the answers that you are looking for , but in here you can keep asking the the question until you get the answer that satisfies you. Diane Allen
rogers ward
This prophet writes by permission of the Holy Spirit. I do not claim to have all knowledge but only what God gives me on a subject. His thoughts are higher than thoughts and his ways are above ours. I try not to always ask why but to trust him. The number of reasons they did not believe then are as many as why people do not believe now. Distractions, sin, false idols, false teachers, putting other things before God, wanting to be like the world, carnality Blessed be the word of the Lord. I have learned to love him and trust him more and more every day. And to share his word whenever I can. I have learned to love others, and to share with others no matter what age race, creed, or situation. Life has taught me that it is better to have him and not need him than to need him and not have him. Read Luke 10:22-23. Be blessed.
Anonymous
My opinion is yes, faith comes from believing.
John Greene
Romans 10:17 So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We need a church and a real preacher of the gospel. To preach truth, And by continuing to hear the word preached, our faith will grow. God bless, pray that the Lord will lead you to such a church.
Zion Sandhya
Israel was chosen because it was at its worst in crime and had the majority of insecure, self and probably very weak minded people... every thing happens to glorify god.. god's glory is more visible that he loved them even when they were ungrateful and weak in faith! if they would have had faith then we wouldnot have known god's extreme love for his children
JD Abshire
Romans 9 will answer a lot of questions and speculations. PLEASE read the whole chapter! v. 6-8 "Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
Vin Smith
...Really fine answers to these questions. Spirit filled. I would add one more item. The Hebrew people were a a stiff-necked people. The Old Testament tells us this: "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. (Exodus 32:9) NIV And the New Testament also tells the story: "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51) NIV Pretty hard to have faith when you are obstinate to the nth degree!.
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