Necessary Faith

"God tested Abraham"

Genesis 22:1

Sacrifice is a difficult word for us.  At its worst, it's a reminder of the unpleasant acts necessary in the Old Testament, for sins to be forgiven.  Even at its best, it's the surrendering of something precious to us.

But God instructed Abraham:  “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love… and offer him as a burnt offering...”  It's a painful, almost inconceivable command, but God has so much for us in this sentence.  First of all, He referred to Isaac as Abraham’s “only son”.  He says that more than once.  Hebrews 10:17 tells us, “Their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.”  Ishmael was the fruit of Abraham’s impatience, and God doesn’t even acknowledge him.  

Next, is God’s use of the word “son”.  He uses the word 13 times in 19 verses.  Do you think He wants us to know that He gets it?  That He knows what He is asking?  And this is the first use, in the Bible, of the word “love”.  And the first time God uses this word, it doesn’t have to do with husband and wife, or mother and child, but father and son. He doesn’t make this command lightly.  He wants Abraham to know – He wants us to know – that He gets what he’s asking Abraham to do.

God is very direct here.  He tells Abraham where, he tells him what, and he tells him when.  And in obedience, Abraham rises EARLY IN THE MORNING to saddle his donkey, split the wood necessary, take Isaac and two young men, and set off to do as the Lord commanded.  Verse 3 says “he rose early in the morning AND saddled his donkey AND split the wood AND went to the place…” The word “and” used here, in the original language implies continual, deliberate, willful action, without hesitation.   

But what enabled Abraham to obey so immediately?  The same faith that stirred him to action so many years before.  Hebrews tells us  “By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.”  “By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country.” And  “By faith he offered up Isaac.”  If it were possible to measure the faith necessary to obey this command, it would be the Grand Canyon of faith.  Or the Mount Everest of faith.  Where does Abraham get this faith?  Would I have it?  Would you?  Yes.  Abraham got his faith the same place you and I get ours.  From God Himself. 

Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Jesus commanded the lame man, “Rise, pick up your mat, and walk” and at Jesus’ words, the man was enabled to obey.  Our faith comes from His Word.  The faith to obey not just when it makes sense.  Charles Spurgeon said, “Without our God, we should fear to move, but when the Lord bids us go, it would be dangerous to tarry.”  What opportunity is God giving you, to exercise your faith?  He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides.  We can trust Him to provide the faith that empowers us to obey.  

~ "Abraham called the name of the place, 

'The-Lord-Will-Provide' " ~

Genesis 22:14