PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Genesis 22-24
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8)
God promised Abraham a great family through his only son Isaac.
When God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, God’s promise is put to the test.
Abraham reasons that somehow God will bring Isaac back alive (see Hebrews 11:17-19).
Abraham trusted God and His promise, and God came through with a lamb.
Abraham did not know how prophetic his words were: God will provide the lamb!
Not Abraham’s son, but God’s Son, the lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
God promises to bless the world through Abraham, and Jesus fulfills that promise.
We can trust that God will make a way through death to life, no matter what.
Trusting God like Abraham means looking at our own tough situations.
Is sickness, hardship, injustice, abuse, poverty, addiction, etc. messing up our lives?
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:36-?39)
Hang on to this promise, and wait for the Lord to come through – somehow He will!
PRAYER
Lord, when things get ugly or hopeless, help me to cling to Your promise. Help me to repeat to myself again and again, ‘God will come through, somehow He will!’
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
“He went out to the field one evening to meditate…” Genesis 24:63a
I never realized before that Isaac meditated. My bible says that the meaning of the Hebrew word for this is uncertain. It does give other examples of the word, “meditate” in the Psalms. So, what exactly does “meditate” mean in the bible? Is it simply thinking/reflecting? Is it praying in a specific way? I am curious to know because it can carry some “far out or negative connotations. I would like to know more about the biblical way of meditating.
Abraham had learned to trust God to even carry out what seemed so unreasonable, so impossible. He did not doubt – even to the point of raising the knife. God did provide the substitute then and he provided the ultimate substitute for sinners – his own son. Amazing love – the sentence of death paid for me! When Sarah died Abraham carried through – he did not want his neighbours to give him land. Abraham followed through on God’s promises to him and ensured that Isaac would be established here and that is wife would come from his own family roots and not of their neighbours – Abraham did not want to risk God’s promises. For me, I pray that God may help me to be more and more spirit led – to be convicted as Abraham was to be faithful to God’s promises to me – that I may be more like Jesus in all I do and say!
Trust and obey.
Every day is a day of the Lord. And how do I see Him as I journey in His Light? Do I walk in my own confidence or in the confidence that He will be my Guardian and Guide? As He led His servants in today’s reading, so He continues to lead and guide me today for He has promised to be with His people. Those who wait upon Him will renew their strength. Once again I am reminded to travel with Him and placing my hand into His large hand as He leads and guides me. He is in control. He is the pilot and I need to love my life believing that.
1
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treach’rous shoal;
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
2
As a mother stills her child,
Thou canst hush the ocean wild;
Boist’rous waves obey Thy will
When Thou say’st to them, “Be still.”
Wondrous Sov’reign of the sea,
Jesus, Savior, pilot me.
3
Though death’s valley I may pass,
Still Thy grace will fear surpass;
In Thy presence I will rest,
And, while leaning on Thy breast,
I will hear Thee say to me,
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”