DrawingAside

Just Thinking Out Loud:

One of the blessings of growing older is the realization of how short life really is and how important it is to not waste the time we've been given. My present-day priorities are faith (my relationship with God) and family (my relationship with my wife and progeny).

Just Thinking Out Loud:

In considering what my relationship with God should look like, I ask myself if what I believe is because that's what the Church teaches or if what I believe is because that's what the Bible teaches, and if and how those two things might be divergent.

Just Thinking Out Loud:

I've come to believe that the most important thing in my faith walk is my personal relationship with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and what that relationship should look like.

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THE SELF-SUFFICIENT GOD

VERSE: “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.’ So they went both of them together.” (Genesis 22:8)

EXPOSITION: There is so much more to what Abraham said here than even he could have imagined. This father's immediate concern was the life of his son. God had placed a death sentence upon Isaac, but Abraham was holding out hope for mercy. The amazing thing is that he had brought nothing of his own to offer God in this regard. He did not claim a righteousness that deserved rewarding or good works that merited favor. Rather, he believed that God would be merciful and provide what was needed. Like Abraham, we must come to the place where we realize we have nothing to offer God worthy of his kindness. After all, what could we possibly give to the One who “provides for himself”?! It is enough to walk on together with Him trusting in his mercy and provision. Are you doing that today?

ACTION POINT: Daily walk with God and trust him for all things.

TRUST GOD’S PROVISION

VERSE: “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?’” (Genesis 22:7)

EXPOSITION: Abraham and Isaac were alone now as they walked toward the place of sacrifice. Along the way, Isaac had a question. He’d been taking inventory of the items they were carrying and noticed something was missing. He couldn’t understand how his father could have forgotten the lamb for the sacrifice. This no doubt seemed to Isaac to be a glaring omission! If we’re honest, there are times in our own lives when we don’t understand what our Father is doing. Perhaps we are diagnosed with a terrible illness, or we lose the security of a job, or our spouse gives up and leaves us, or our children walk away from God, or any other number of things. Something seems to be missing and we wonder if God has forgotten us. It is in times like these that we must remember that our Father is walking with us. Just as Isaac sought an answer from his father, we can seek an answer from our Father as well. And just like Isaac, we must trust that God knows what he is doing and will provide what is needed in his timing.

ACTION POINT: Be honest with God about your questions and trust his provision.

THE GREAT SACRIFICE

VERSE: “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.” (Genesis 22:6)

EXPOSITION: Here, we see the three elements that were to be used in the sacrifice of Isaac — wood, fire and a knife. As Abraham arranged each item, the pain of what lie ahead would pierce this father’s heart. This pain would only be amplified by each step his son Isaac took towards the place of sacrifice. When I read this verse, I can’t help but think of another Father’s heartache as centuries later he would watch his own Son go up this very same mountain to the place of sacrifice. All the elements were in place: a totally sinless life, a completely satisfied Law, and a complicit populace. And just as Isaac was willing to lay his life down, Jesus willingly laid down his own life. The blessing of Abraham would continue through Isaac’s obedient, yet interrupted sacrifice; an even greater blessing would flow through Christ’s. For in Christ’s obedient completed sacrifice we are reconciled to God, our sins are forgiven, we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit, and our destiny is eternity with God.

ACTION POINT: Praise His wonderful name for Jesus Christ!

TRUE WORSHIP

VERSE: "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.'" (Genesis 22:5)

EXPOSITION: Abraham considered his offering of Isaac to God an act of worship, for he said, "I and the boy will go over there and worship." Was it a difficult thing for Abraham to do? Most definitely! Would he himself have chosen this way to worship God? I doubt it very much. But Abraham understood something about worship that many have missed today. He knew he didn't get to do it his way, but must do it God's way. Worship is not a matter of personal choice, but must be done as God has instructed us in his Word (Joh 4:19-24; Psa 95:1-7, 96:1-9 and others). Abraham would not let anything or anyone spoil his worship. In fact, it might have been Abraham's concern that his young men would have tried to intervene in the sacrifice of Isaac that he told them to stay with the donkey. Whether individually or corporately, we too must be careful to ensure that our worship is God-exalting, Spirit-bathed and Scripturally-sound. Such worship is pleasing to God!

ACTION POINT: Read what God's Word says about worship and put it into practice.

A RIGHT-NOW RELATIONSHIP

VERSE: "On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar." (Genesis 22:4)

EXPOSITION: Abraham has now traveled some 60 miles over untamed mountainous terrain to arrive near the place to which God has called him. He can see it now in the distance, the place where he will offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God. Even though the trip has been difficult, at least he has had the company of his only beloved son. But now that comfort is quickly dissipating as the moment of his ultimate testing comes rushing toward him. What has only been a possibility up to this point is now becoming a reality. We will soon see how Abraham responds to this challenge, but how do you think you would do? If God asked you to do something really difficult, would you? If God asked you to give up the one thing you love the most, what then? Would you shrink from the challenge? Or would you trust God to see it through to the end? We may never know until we are in the midst of the trial, but I can tell you this. Success then will flow from a genuine relationship now!

ACTION POINT: Make it your aim to walk and talk with Jesus every day.

JUST DO IT!

VERSE: "And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him." (Genesis 22:3c)

EXPOSITION: We read here that Abraham "went to the place of which God had told him." The place was unknown to him, but he went because God told him to go. The place was unfriendly to him, but he went because God told him to go. The place was unpleasant to him, but he went because God told him to go. Abraham didn't need answers or assurances before he moved; he just needed to know what God had told him. Too many Christians have been sidelined waiting for answers or assurances. If God's Word has told you to do something, then do it because God tells you to do it! He's told you to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mar 12:30). Do it! He's told you to love your neighbor as yourself (Mar 12:31). Do it! He's told you to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Php 2:12). Do it!

ACTION POINT: Don't let anything or anyone keep you from doing what God has called you to do.

NO EXCUSES

VERSE: "...saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac." (Genesis 22:3b)

EXPOSITION: Here, we see that Abraham not only responded swiftly to God's command (23:3a), but we see that he responded resolutely. Abraham sought to remove any obstacle that would stop him from doing what God had asked him to do. It was a long journey to Moriah, so he saddled a donkey. His age presented a challenge, so he brought along two young men to help him. His heart hurt at the thought of losing Isaac, but he nonetheless made sure that Isaac was with him. When God asks us to do something difficult, we may want to look for excuses as to why we can't do it -- it's too inconvenient, too scary, or too hard. But we need to take a lesson from Abraham here and determine to remove all hindrances from obeying God.

ACTION POINT: Let us strive to respond quickly and decisively to God's commands.

RESPONDING TO GOD

VERSE: "So Abraham rose early in the morning..." (Genesis 22:3a)

EXPOSTION: Faced with the unenviable task ahead of him, one would not be surprised if Abraham had drug his feet a little. After all, his nephew Lot had "lingered" when faced with the unpleasant task of relocating from S***m (Gen 19:16). However, we read that Abraham, unlike his nephew, "rose early in the morning" and got right to it! He did not procrastinate, hesitate, deliberate, or vacillate. So how do you respond when God's Word calls you to difficult things, such as forgiveness, self-denial, and the like? Do you drag your feet like Lot or are you quick to respond like Abraham? It may be that our greatest victories lie in our greatest response times!

ACTION POINT: Evaluate your response to God's Word and make changes as necessary.

GOD OF THE UNEXPECTED

VERSE: "and offer [Isaac] there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2c)

EXPOSITION: This is without doubt on its surface one of the most difficult stories in the Bible. The idea that a loving God would make such a horrible request is morally repugnant. In fact, this story is often quoted by nonbelievers as evidence of the cruelty of the Christian God and as a good reason to reject him. But we mustn't miss the point of this story. God actually shows through this event that he refuses worship by human sacrifice at a time when such sacrifices were the norm. Within the framework of a then-accepted practice, God reminds Abraham that he is different from other so-called gods. Just as God dealt with Abraham in his culture, he deals with us in ours. God may choose to reveal himself to us in a most unexpected way, but only to show us that he is like no other.

ACTION POINT: Make sure you know this matchless God!