Today KA asks us to delve a little deeper into the reading from Genesis 22.  Gods tells Abraham to bring his son into the wilderness and offer him as a sacrifice.  Abraham obeys without complaint or delay.  He tells Isaac, ” God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:8). And it happened exactly as he said…I always wonder when I read this story if Abraham knew with certainty exactly the way God would provide.  Did he know that God would provide an animal as a substitute sacrifice?  Or was he hiding the truth from Isaac and wondering how God would rescue Isaac, the promised heir, from the altar or revive him from death?  Either way, Abraham’s was obedient to the Word of God – God told him to do something and he did not argue – he immediately followed the instruction of the Lord.  I believe that his faith in God’s promise did not waver – he knew that God had promised he would be the father of many nations, through Isaac (Gen 17:19-22). So he set out on this journey, to make a sacrifice, knowing God would be faithful to the promise; he put his faith into action.  This is the same way that he first responded to the call of God: The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram went, as the LORD had told him…Gen. 12:1-4. So he went!  Later, when God promised Abraham a long-awaited son, He reiterated the first promise – to make Abram into a great nation: “Look up at the sky and count the stars if indeed you can count them.” Then [God] said to him, “So shall your offspringbe.” Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:4-6). He believed the Lord, immediately.

Because Abraham believed God, he was counted as righteous.  Because Abraham believed God, he saw miraculous things.  Because Abraham believed God, he had a close and personal relationship with the Maker of the Universe, he was called God’s friend (James 2:23). I always have marveled at Abraham’s faith – how it turned so easily into action.  But that faith comes from really knowing God for who He is.  Abraham knew God was faithful and would keep His word, he knew that God was good and could be trusted and he knew that God was able to do all these things and more.  Because Abraham was obedient, he saw the Lord’s provision – Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide) – He provided Abraham with a ram as a substitute for Isaac.  He demonstrated His character – that He s able to and will provide for His people when they have faith and are obedient to His Word.  In the same way, God has provided a substitute sacrifice for us – while Abraham was willing to give up his son, in the end it was not required.  Centuries later, Christ would die for the sins of man, a substitute for me and you.  Jehovah Jireh – He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom 8:32).

What has God done for you that has allowed you to know Him better?  Tell us, how God has revealed Himself, or something of His character, to you personally?

JustaGirl…just like you!