Daily Devotional

Daily Devotional brought to you by Jon Vasgar Prayer Warrior

                                                                                          Title: You Want Me to Do What? Part 4

Verses: Genesis 22:2 'Then He (God) said, "Take now your son, your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."'

The last time we saw Abraham, he had just been told he was going to have a son at a very old age. Like many of us, he didn't believe God could do that. Sarah laughed and was reproved by God. Sure enough, a year later, Isaac was born to the 100 yr old Abraham and the 90 yr old Sarah.

All was wonderful for awhile as now Abraham did have the promised son who would carry on the bloodline. He had send his other son and his mother away, so now he just had Isaac. God had promised Abraham that a great nation would be born of his son. But, just when life had settled down, God had something else in mind.

Reread the verse above. God has just told Abraham to take his only son and sacrifice him. Kill his son! Can you imagine. Ah, but look at what Abraham chooses to do. Rather than question God, read what happens next: 'So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."' (Gen 22:3-5) Notice what Abraham said. 'We will come back to you.' Not, I will. No, so great was his faith that even though he knew that God was commanding him to kill his son, he knew God also would not break his promise! When Isaac questioned his father on the sacrifice, he said in vs 8 "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."

Oh, to have the faith of Abraham! Notice how far it got. In vs 9-10 'Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.' He was so committed to God, that he knew this was His will. He must have thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead or stop him from this. However, he followed through. As the knife came down, a hand reached out and stopped Abraham. God Himself sent an angel to stop Abraham and provided a ram to be sacrificed.

As a result, look at what was promised in vs 16-18 '"By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [son]-- blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which [is] on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Now, I turn the question to you. How often as God's will not made any sense? How often have you felt His prompting and thought, "Nope, not going there God. You promised me THIS, but not THAT, so I'm gonna stay here." How amazing could your life be if, like Abraham, you just took that wild leap and did what He asked you to do? God isn't cruel, He wants to teach us. He used this to build Abraham AND Isaac's faith. What is holding you back from doing what God told you to do? What is keeping you back from an unbelievable (if not easy) life? Notice what Jesus says to us in John 15:10-11 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and [that] your joy may be full."

You see, Jesus never promised happiness or that it would be simple. But, He does promise joy, peace, love. How cool is that? What are you waiting for? Dive in! Following God will fill your soul. Chasing happiness will lead to nothing. You can't ever get enough happiness, but God can fill you up with His eternal, everlasting joy.