LEARNING DAILY

 

Hebrews 11:17, It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. (NLT)

 

Abraham has had a lot of decisions to make.  Like us he did not always make the right choice.  But God never threw up His hands and said, “That’s it, I give up on him.  He just does not have the ability to live like I want him to.”  God did not give up on Abraham; He does not give up on you and me.  I can testify that God does not give up on us!  Yet, we have to notice in this verse that God was testing Abraham – again. 

 

Abraham got up and left his country when God told him to do so.  He believed God that he would have a son at an old age.  Now, He told Abraham to sacrifice the promised son on an altar.  The account of this is found in Genesis 22:1-8.  Go back and read it carefully.  David Jeremiah has said, “Satan tempts people to bring out the worst; God tests people to bring out the best.”  James wrote in his letter to Jewish Christians that were scattered, “For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.” (NLT).  When tested, we are not required to resign ourselves to whatever happens.  No!  Instead, we should have a strong determination to walk on the narrow way as we go through the difficult circumstances.  Now, I don’t jump up and down when difficult circumstances come and think that another opportunity to grow closer to the Lord is here for me.  I do try to face the trial with confidence that the Lord is going to walk with me (probably carry me as in the story Footsteps in the Sand) as I go through the trial.

 

Once again, Abraham obeyed without hesitation, even though it meant losing his only son.  But to understand this, it is important to read the next few verses in Hebrews 11.  Abraham was willing to be obedient because he “assumed that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.”  We have to think back to God’s covenant with Abraham where He made promises to him that included Isaac.  Therefore, Abraham was obedient because He knew God would keep His promises and in order to do that Isaac would have to be brought back from the dead.  That is faith!  That is faith that God will do what He has promised He will do.

 

God is not asking any of us to sacrifice our children.  He is telling us to place our children into His hands and believe He knows what is best for them.  The Bible does not say Abraham prayed for Isaac every day; I bet he did.  I believe he prayed for Isaac to grow up to follow God.  I pray every day for my family to have a hunger and a thirst for God’s righteousness and to walk the narrow way that leads to His kingdom and eternal life.  Every day!  In that prayer, I include each person that reads this blog.

 

What is God desiring that you sacrifice on an altar to Him?  What does He want you to do differently in your life that will bring you into a closer relationship with Him?  There are examples I might be able to give you but God is already nudging you.  Do you trust Him to walk with you as you go through the sacrifice.?  Is your faith helping you believe you will be stronger in your faith as a result of being obedient to Him?  I encourage you to be obedient to God who is able to do all things and see what He does because of your obedience. 

 

I know I am not to add something new in the conclusion but…. Don’t forget that in response to Abraham’s obedience God provided a lamb to take Isaac’s place in this sacrifice.  Let that sink in today!  I just think someone needs to know that.