(Part
3)
“When they reached the place God had
told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He
bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he
reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the
Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he
replied. Genesis 22:9-11
Although
Abraham proved proficient in obeying God’s word and demonstrated a firm
understanding of God’s nature and precious promises; it is here that the
genuineness of Abraham’s convictions was revealed.
Without
hesitation, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, bound up his son, and
was in the process of fulfilling what God had instructed him; when the angel of
the Lord cried out his name. It is evident from the passage that Abraham fully
intended to obey God’s command to the letter. If the angel had not intervened
he would have sacrificed Isaac.
I
can honestly say, as a father, that I would have likely wavered in that
situation. I may have went to the mountain, taken all the necessary supplies,
built the altar, arranged the wood; but when it came time to sacrifice, I can’t
say with confidence I could have followed through.
Yet,
it wasn’t until that moment that God intervened. God could have showed up when
they were building the altar and said, “That’s enough Abraham, I see that you
are serious.” He could have called out to him when they were arranging the wood
or when Abraham was binding Isaac and said, “Abraham, I see your faithfulness,
you can stop now.” However, if God had shown up any sooner, we would have never
seen the genuineness of Abraham’s convictions.
After
years of serving the Lord and countless trials, Abraham proved that he was adequately
prepared to become the father of our faith:
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said.
“Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not
withheld form me your son, your only son.”
Genesis
22:12
Abraham’s
response revealed his readiness to move deeper into God’s plan for his life:
“I swear by myself, declares the Lord,
that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in
the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession
of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth
will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
Genesis
22:16-18
Abraham
became the father of many nations because he showed himself reliable in obeying
the Word of God, demonstrated a firm understanding of God’s nature and promises,
and proved the genuineness of his convictions when, without hesitation, he was
willing to obey God and offer Isaac up as a burnt offering.
Pastor
Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/
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