December 10, 2009
Genesis 21:1–2 - God did what He promised when He promised at the right time. (Genesis 18:14 - "at the right time...")
Genesis 22:1 - God tested Abraham's faith. Abraham had already experienced multiple times in his life where God asked him to surrender. He had to surrender: 1) country and extended family when God told him to leave; 2) his nephew Lot (his possible heir, fellow believer and family) when they separated; 3) Abraham's plan for Ishmael to become his heir; 4) and now Isaac. God was not asking Abraham to give up evil things or actions. All the things God asked him to surrender were part of his everyday course of life. Normal, typical, and "good" things. Family, country, and his own ideas and plans.
Surrender is a progression of steps. IF—Abraham had been unfaithful in surrendering to God the smaller things in life, THEN—he would not have been in the position for God to ask him to surrender the most important thing in his life.
Genesis 22:12–18 - "You have not kept your son from me." Abraham was obedient. THEN God provided the lamb and God blessed his faithfulness.
In order for God to provide and bless us we must first surrender. You have not kept ______ (fill in the blank) from me. THEN God provides and blesses. IF—THEN. It has to be in that order. We have to be willing to surrender all. Even good and natural things.
Jehovah Jireh—The Lord provides.
God fulfills His promises even when a situation seems hopeless. We must surrender and trust. In the process God changes us and our faith increases. Our hands must be open in full surrender. The stake of total submission must be in the ground.
Addendum: 9/3/13 ~ Abraham had just come through a very trying time. He had just received God's blessing and then scripture records what sounds like insignificant "random" family gossip.
Genesis 22:20 - "After these things happened, someone told Abraham..." that his brother whom he left behind when he obeyed God to leave his country now had a family. But it was so much more than insignificant family gossip. God was planting a seed in Abraham's mind which was put into action in Genesis 24:4–26.
What we often think are just random things in our lives actually turn out to be God's hand leading us in unexpected ways. Deciding to section hike the Appalachian Trail seemed random. Deciding to go to the nursing home on Christmas mornings back in 2002 seemed random. Looking back we can see that none of those things were random—it was actually God's hand working in our lives and preparing us for what was going to happen in the future. God knew what we didn't know—storm clouds were brewing on the horizon.
Next Entry: Genesis 24:1 – 25:18
Genesis 21:1–2 - God did what He promised when He promised at the right time. (Genesis 18:14 - "at the right time...")
Genesis 22:1 - God tested Abraham's faith. Abraham had already experienced multiple times in his life where God asked him to surrender. He had to surrender: 1) country and extended family when God told him to leave; 2) his nephew Lot (his possible heir, fellow believer and family) when they separated; 3) Abraham's plan for Ishmael to become his heir; 4) and now Isaac. God was not asking Abraham to give up evil things or actions. All the things God asked him to surrender were part of his everyday course of life. Normal, typical, and "good" things. Family, country, and his own ideas and plans.
Surrender is a progression of steps. IF—Abraham had been unfaithful in surrendering to God the smaller things in life, THEN—he would not have been in the position for God to ask him to surrender the most important thing in his life.
Genesis 22:12–18 - "You have not kept your son from me." Abraham was obedient. THEN God provided the lamb and God blessed his faithfulness.
In order for God to provide and bless us we must first surrender. You have not kept ______ (fill in the blank) from me. THEN God provides and blesses. IF—THEN. It has to be in that order. We have to be willing to surrender all. Even good and natural things.
Jehovah Jireh—The Lord provides.
God fulfills His promises even when a situation seems hopeless. We must surrender and trust. In the process God changes us and our faith increases. Our hands must be open in full surrender. The stake of total submission must be in the ground.
Addendum: 9/3/13 ~ Abraham had just come through a very trying time. He had just received God's blessing and then scripture records what sounds like insignificant "random" family gossip.
Genesis 22:20 - "After these things happened, someone told Abraham..." that his brother whom he left behind when he obeyed God to leave his country now had a family. But it was so much more than insignificant family gossip. God was planting a seed in Abraham's mind which was put into action in Genesis 24:4–26.
What we often think are just random things in our lives actually turn out to be God's hand leading us in unexpected ways. Deciding to section hike the Appalachian Trail seemed random. Deciding to go to the nursing home on Christmas mornings back in 2002 seemed random. Looking back we can see that none of those things were random—it was actually God's hand working in our lives and preparing us for what was going to happen in the future. God knew what we didn't know—storm clouds were brewing on the horizon.
Next Entry: Genesis 24:1 – 25:18
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