I wanna know more! Every time I read the story of Abraham’s faith being tested in Genesis 22, I just want to know what in the world was going through both Abraham and his son’s, Isaac, mind.
First of all, God talked to Abraham. Get that first. When you read, it was as if God was right there with Abraham saying, “Hey Abe, I’ve got something I need you to do.” Then, notice how Abraham did not hesitate in answering God. He said something to the effect of, “Yes sir? What can I do for you?” God says, “You know how long you waited to have your one and only son with Sarah, Isaac. Well, I want you to take him up to a mountain, I’ll show you the mountain when you set out, and kill him as a sacrifice to me.”
- God speaks.
- Abraham quickly responds to God.
- God requests sacrifice.
Okay, we do not have any record of the rest of the conversation. Was Abraham shocked? Did he plead with God to not have him kill his beloved son? Was Abraham just sick to his stomach all night long and unable to sleep? Because the next thing we know in the story is that Abraham got up early the next morning and took two of his servants and Isaac on a journey.
- Obedience to God without hesitation.
The four travels first went to cut enough wood for the sacrifice. Imagine every rising of the ax and then the sound of the spitting wood, what must have been going through Abraham’s mind. Maybe he silently cried out to God to provide another offering to be given besides his precious son. Or just maybe he had confidence that God had this under control or why else would God ask Abraham to do such a thing as killing his own son.
- Belief that God had this under control.
This request wasn’t actually as quick as we would think. The four travels journeyed for three days to the destination God led them to. Are you with me in thought? Abraham knew, without saying a word, that his son was going to die, and that he was the one that was going to slay him. God was surely protecting his mind, heart, and physical body each day. If I knew what was going to happen, each step would probably drag a little slower.
Well, no matter the thoughts that we create in our minds, they did reach the destination. Abraham said to his servants in verse five, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Stop! Read that last sentence again. Faith? Denial? He told his servants that “we” will see you soon.
- Faith spoken
Isaac and Abraham were going up the mountain to prepare the wood for the sacrifice. Abraham carried the fire, and Isaac carried the wood. One knew, one didn’t. One knew that he was supposed to use his item to sacrifice his son. The other didn’t know that he was carrying the wood that he was soon going to be lying on himself as the sacrifice. I think I would prefer, in this instance, to be the person who didn’t know.
- Faith in the known and unknown.
- Isaac questioned his dad about what they were going to sacrifice, and Abraham simply replied that “God will provide”.
- God will provide.
In verses 9b and 10 we read, “Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.” Again…I wanna know more! Did Isaac resist, put up a fight, think his dad as out of his mind, or just stand there and allow his dad to tie him up? Was Abraham’s hand shaking with resistance, his heart racing, stomach churning, and tears streaming down his face?
- I don’t even know what to write here for a bullet point.
Ahhhh, relief! Look what happens in verses 11-13:
Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”
13Then Abraham noticed a ram whose horns were caught in a bush. So Abraham went and took the ram. He offered it, instead of his son, as a sacrifice to God.
- Faith tested.
- Still listening to God.
- God did provide!
Whew! What a story. And every bit of it was true.
- Are you listening to God? He speaks daily. Look around. Open His word. He’s talking.
- Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
- Do you respond without hesitation to what God is asking of or calling you to? Is your response, “Yes, Lord.”
- Psalms 119:10, “I try with all my heart to serve you. Help me obey your commands.”
- Are you willing to sacrifice a few things in life in order for God to use you the way He intends to use you? He has great plans for you. Trust Him and not in the things of this world.
- Romans 12:1, “So I beg you, brothers and sisters, because of the great mercy God has shown us, offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him—an offering that is only for God and pleasing to him. Considering what he has done, it is only right that you should worship him in this way.”
- Do you really believe that “God’s got this”? He does! Trust Him.
- Psalms 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses,but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
- Whether you have an idea of the outcome or not, can you honestly step up in faith in either situation? Have faith in God.
- Hebrew 11:1, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
- Don’t worry. Believe. God will provide!
- Philippians 4:19, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Who can totally relate? God. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Blessings to you!
God's got great plans for you!
| January 11 |