Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Faith Like Abraham

Genesis 22
Abraham Tested

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.

5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

It used to be that when I read this passage I couldn't help but think about if I were in Abraham's position and how I don't know if I could be so obedient. In fact, the thought is unfathomable. But what made Abraham so obedient? How could he give up his son like that? It wasn't until recently that I was taught the full meaning of that message. There's a lot more to the story...

Abraham never thought for a second that God would take his son away. Let's not forget the promise that God had made to him for many, many years before hand. Genesis 17:4 says, “As for Me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations." God continues with His promise in verse 19 and gets even more specific, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him."

Abraham was told by God that he was going to be the father of many nations through Isaac! He never doubted God for a second! He didn't hesitate because he had complete faith in God's promise.

Just as Abraham had a promise from God, we too, have one. And even better...we have it in writing! I still struggle with having the kind of faith that Abraham did, but at least I have the knowledge of how faithful God is to ALL His children. I want that FAITH!

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