Today, we continue to examine Abraham’s testing, this time focusing on his obedience.
The Spirit of the Lord says, “I need hearts that are quick to respond in obedience to me. Obedience leads My people into the centre of My will. It establishes them in My timing and rhythms. I constantly search for obedient hearts—hearts that are open to My leading. Obedience requires a leap, yes, but it will take you to places you never imagined you would go.”
Activation:
With these words in mind, re-read Genesis 22:1-8 and consider Abraham’s response to God’s request in this passage. After waiting so long to see God’s promise to him and Sarah fulfilled with the birth of Isaac, God then asks Abraham to make this monumental sacrifice. The very next morning Abraham acted upon God’s instructions.
Take some time to consider Abraham’s extraordinary obedience. How do you think you would respond to such a request? What do you learn from Abraham’s response?
Allow Holy Spirit to speak to you about your heart posture. Is your heart postured in obedience to the Lord? Are you willing to grow in this area? Spend time considering these questions and journal the revelation you receive.
The Offering of Isaac
1 Now after these things, God tested [the faith and commitment of] Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he answered, “Here I am.”
2 God said, “Take now your son, your only son [of [a]promise], whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of [b]Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he got up and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 On the third day [of travel] Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
5 Abraham said to his servants, “Settle down and stay here with the donkey; the [c]young man and I will go over there and worship [God], and we will come back to you.”
6 Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it [d]on [the shoulders of] Isaac his son, and he took the [e]fire (firepot) in his own hand and the [sacrificial] knife; and the two of them walked on together.
7 And Isaac said to Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself [f]a lamb for the burnt offering.” So the two walked on together.
Genesis 22:1-8 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Genesis 22:2 Abraham also fathered Ishmael by Sarah’s slave, Hagar, but Isaac was his only son of promise, the legal heir of Abraham.
[b] Genesis 22:2 This area later was to become Jerusalem and the site of Solomon’s temple.
[c] Genesis 22:5 At this time Isaac would probably be about twenty years old.
[d] Genesis 22:6 As Jesus carried the crossbar for His own crucifixion, so here Isaac carried the wood for his own execution by fire, but God had mercy on him.
[e] Genesis 22:6 i.e. a firepot filled with burning coals.
[e] Genesis 22:8 Abraham had complete faith and trust in God. Because God’s covenant with him depended on Isaac, Abraham may have anticipated that God would reveal to him an alternative to the sacrifice of Isaac, as He in fact did (vv 11-13). But Abraham was determined to carry out what God had commanded him to do, because of his faith in God’s promise.
#lionbites
Unapologetically Marcia 