A Foundation of Obedience

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Today's Passage: Genesis 22: 1-19
Memory Verses: Gen. 22:17 & 18

If we're going to inherit the blessing of Abraham as his descendants, we've got to revisit again and again what He did to begin this flood of blessing. The first thing I noticed is that God tested Abraham. Even after Abraham had proven he could be trusted to obey God completely, I believe the test was necessary as a means of showing Abraham a preview of the grace that He would be extending to us centuries later, when He provided the ultimate sacrifice for us. But He wanted to know that Abraham would obey without questioning.

There's a second thing Abraham did that we must emulate. He spoke in faith even when he couldn't see the promise. He knew what God was requesting of him, yet when his son asked him where the sacrifice was, his response was one that would literally prophesy not only what God would do for him at that moment, but for all mankind when He sacrificed His only Son. He said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."

How awesome is that? He had no way of knowing that this would actually come to pass. Yet he spoke from a place deep within himself that had never before been experienced since the days of Noah by a human being. He, who had already put Forward Action in Trusting Him by obeying, now spoke what he expected the outcome to be. And the rest, as they say, is history. Not only did his word come to pass, but he literally unleashed supernatural favor for himself and all of us who would come after him in the lineage of faith so many years later.

So what will it be? Will our story read the same way? When it comes our turn to go the next round of obedience, will we respond with action as well as words of faith? As it was with our father Abraham, will we too be found worthy of the blessing of multiplication that has already been set in place? I'd like to think so. After all, the foundation for obedience has already been established. All we have to do is build on it.

Prayer: Father, thank You for using Abraham's life to draw a pattern for the rest of Your children of what our lives ought to look like. You call, we respond without wrath or doubting. Then You respond and put blessings in place that will affect generations to come. We purpose in our hearts to show You the same unwavering faith in our daily walk. In Jesus' Name, Amen.