God sets ‘High Stakes Tests’ to find out if we will obey or step back. We may not know what’s truly involved unless we go through with the test.
Sometimes seemingly insignificant things can have very important consequences, but we may be unaware of them.
Abraham was given a very severe test concerning Isaac.
2 Then God said, ‘TAKE YOUR SON, YOUR ONLY SON, WHOM YOU LOVE (God knew exactly what He was asking, and also in our lives) – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will show you.’ Genesis 22
3 EARLY NEXT MORNING Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.
Neither the devil (did God really say?), nor Sarah his wife, nor well meaning individuals had any opportunity to talk Abraham out of obeying God’s command. Often when we hesitate doubt can come in and we miss the way even before we’ve begun. ‘He or she who hesitates is lost’.
5 He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and THEN WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU.’
How could Abraham have said this when he knew what God had commanded him? HE SPOKE IN FAITH, they were both going out and they would both come back.
Isaac saw the wood and the fire, but there was no lamb for the sacrifice.
8 Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.
Abraham answered his son’s question, still speaking in faith. He was also speaking Prophetically, because a long time into the future, God’s own son, Jesus, would be our Passover Lamb.
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. HE BOUND HIS SON ISAAC and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
We too may feel ‘BOUND’ at times in our own lives, unable to get off the altar/or out of the situation we face. Our lives have taken us along a certain path and we have to go through with things. Paul ‘despaired of life itself’ because of the troubles they faced in Asia. 2 Corinthians 1:8
10 Then he reached out his hand and TOOK THE KNIFE TO SLAY HIS SON. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.
12 ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. NOW I KNOW THAT YOU FEAR GOD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT WITHHELD from me your son, your only son.’
Those must been terrible moments for Abraham, but God saw the sincerity and trust of his heart.
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and THROUGH YOUR OFFSPRING ALL NATIONS ON EARTH WILL BE BLESSED, because you have obeyed me.’
What a blessing to every nation/people and all because one man trusted his God. We’ll never know how many will be blessed when we put our trust in God and obey Him.
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