Abraham
Genesis 22:1-13 NKJV
James 2:20-24 NKJV
James Series
The story of the faith of Abraham was somewhat difficult for me when I was younger. I would wonder how Abraham could have followed through if God would not have stopped him that day.
It freaked me out a little.
I was amazed that Abraham didn’t seem to be afraid at all. I couldn’t imagine how he could be so sure God would show up. We read in Genesis 22:1-5, “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and he took his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
We have to remember that Abraham was around 100 years old when Isaac was born. His wife Sarah was around 90 years old. He was their miracle baby! This was the child that he was about to sacrifice!
Notice that before Abraham and Isaac went to the altar, Abraham and Isaac went off to worship God. I have to wonder, was that was when God gave Abraham the faith to follow through on what he was about to do?
In Genesis 22:6-13 we learn that, “Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything my to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.”
In my mind, this act of faith was Abraham’s defining moment. He was telling God, I do trust you.
I have had defining moments in my life as well. For me, it was the moment I had lost everything I’d known. I didn’t understand what happened or why. I came to a point where I said to God, “You are my God. I don’t understand what happened or why it happened…I only know You are my God and You are all I need.”
Figuratively, everything had been burned up. All I had left was ashes and God.
From that moment on, God rebuilt my life.
In James 2:20-24 we learn, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
Abraham’s faith came to life when he placed Isaac on the altar. In that moment, it was Abraham and God.
In my case, when I told God, “You are my God” no matter what happened in the past or what happens next, “You are my God”, FAITH came to life.
I don’t remember being afraid, or unsure. God is faithful and He gave me faith. I had nothing else I could count on. In that moment, all I had was God.
And, it was enough.
God has always been enough.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: God is Enough
Think of your difficult moment(s). Tell God He was and IS enough and you love Him for being there for you.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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