Can we have this kind of obedience and faith as Abraham did?

     Genesis 22 vs 1-2   “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. “

This is the greatest test a man can be given. Just imagine yourself to be without money. Then a rich man calls you and gives you a bag full of gold. You are happy. One fine day he comes and tells you that you need to return it to him back the next day. What will be your reaction? What will we do?

As a normal human being we will first ask him why, Then we will ask him whether we can give back a little , then it is bargaining and pleading and kneeling on the ground. Oh boy what all we will do. Think about it.

Now let us look at Abraham. After God asked him to sacrifice Issac, vs 4 says Abraham, got up early in the morning .Let us stop here. Will we get up so early and go to give back our loan? I am sure all of us will find some reason to go late. In this case it is his Only Son.  He gets up saddles his horses and took two men and went to the place. If we have to get up early and leave for a journey , we will all pack our belongings the previous night and if you are like me even pack it into the vehicle and be ready. Here Abraham does the same thing. Does he have any regret that God has asked for his only son? He just Obeys God.

I am sure he did not have any fear, Else he would not have got up early and left. He trusted His God. God had promised him that his seed would increase through Isaac, so he had nothing to worry. In Full Faith in God, he just went about his day like any other day. No worries, no tension just the promise that tomorrow is a better day

He walks out early morning, travels to the base of the mountain. Listen carefully to what Abraham says to his servants in vs5, Wait here while the lad and I will go up to the mountain and WE will come back. How I like this. WE WILL COME BACK, Did he know that Issac will not be sacrificed? Yes surely. How much of trust in God did Abraham have?  I also like vs 7, where Isaac asks Abraham, Where is the lamb for the sacrifice? Abraham replies the Lord will provide. I am sure as a young lad of 13 years, Isaac would have doubted his dad. Did he or did the faith of his father Abraham rub off on him. I am sure it did as he did not question his dad further but just goes along.

On top of the mountain, Abraham sets up the altar and asks Isaac to lie down, Did he cry when he laid his son on the altar? Did he ask God why? No, definitely no. He obeyed the word of God.

Just then God spoke and said look behind you for a lamb is there. The lamb must have also journeyed a couple of days to reach the mountain and get entangled in the bush. How wonderful is God’s provision. He sent the lamb ahead of time. God will meet all our provisions ahead of our needs, the condition for this is that we should Obey HIM, Trust HIM and willingly do what HE asks us to do.

Can we do it?  Willingly, Trustingly putting all our Faith on HIM who provides for all our needs, Our Jehovah Jireh, is our Wonderful Provider.     God Bless you .     Keep trusting HIM.

The Carnal plan for children

The Carnal plan for children

     Genesis 16 vs 1-   “And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. “

In Genesis 12, vs 2-3 we read about the promise of a great nation coming from the lineage of Abram. Yet at around 80 years of age Abram still did not have a child. Sarai, did not hear the word of God, She had her own plans for a child. As we read further we know that she asked Abram to have a child through her maid servant.

This was the custom on those days so that you could have an heir to keep your lineage. The maid servant who bore the child will still be treated as a slave, but the child will become heir.  

Let us look at what all happens because of the unbelief of Sarai.

1 She gives her maid servant as a concubine to Abram.

2 She becomes jealous “her mistress was despised in her eyes” is what the bible says. – to regard with comtempt or dislike.   Was it Hagar who asked for being a concubine?  No. When we are jealous or we dislike someone  we harbour that hatred in us and we end up not behaving properly. The bible says if we hate another it is as good as committing murder.

3 She begins to mistreat Hagar so much so that Hagar runs away from the mistress.

The Lord comes to the rescue of Hagar and asks her to return and be in submission to her mistress and the God still blesses this seed of Abram too and promises that Ishmael also will become a big nation.

Later on we read that when Isaac was born, Ishmael mocked him, and this time Sarah, threw them out of the house. 

Let us learn to be patient for GOD to work His Works in our lives. Let us live to understand His meaning in our lives.

God bless you.

Abram- Belief and fear

Abram- Belief and fear

Genesis 15 vs 1   “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”

Abram was given the promise of becoming a big nation. Yet we see in Genesis 14 vs 2 onwards  " Don’t you see I am childless". This is in response to the vision that he has where God says that I am thy shield and great reward. If you interpret this in modern language Don't you see that this is not possible for me to accomplish"

How many times we have doubted ourselves? It is very true that we should be like little children. The innocence of children is exemplified when we ask them to jump off a table or chair and we will catch them. They don’t wait and think , oh what if my dad will not hold me, what will happen if I slip through his hands.  The child knows by experience that you will hold him  and all that he needs to do is jump into the safe hands of the father. 

If we as earthly fathers can be a shield to our children, how much more should we be as children to the Lord Jesus. He is our Sheild and Reward. Are we looking for our own reward or are we looking for the reward which our heavenly father will give us?

Reading on from vs 5,God brings Abram out and says look and count the stars, as many as the stars are up above so shall your seed be. What an awesome promise? So shall our reward be .

What is our role for this reward.? 

1 Understand the word of God

2 Believe on the word of God.

3 Wait on the word of God.

Are we willing to do this for the Reward.  My Friend He has promised GREAT THINGS for us His Children. God bless you .

The faith of Abraham

The faith of Abraham

       Genesis 12 vs 1-3  “ Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee:   And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall  be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed”

 The first mention of Abram in the bible is Gen 11:27. Abram was born to Terah. Terah moved with Abram and his family to the land of Cannan. Then one day God spoke to Abram and told him to leave his father’s house, territory and move to a new land. (Gen 12:1).

 Abram moved with his family and belongings immediately. How many of us will do this act of faith. We always think twice thrice, get a hundred opinions from our relative and friends. Many of us will go through this dilemma when we switch jobs, when we say yes to marry. Did we rely on the wisdom of God? Did we ask God for his Guidance?

Why did Abram do it? There was a promise attached to the call. God says I WILL

make of thee a great nation. In verses 2 &3 the words I WILL is mentioned three times. Jehovah Jireh – The God who provides for us. Abram believed blindly on this promise. The next verse says So Abram departed to a new land when he was 75 years old. What confidence in the promise of God.

Can we have faith like Abram, and respond blindly to GOD. Trusting completely in HIS care of us?

Can we believe that He will meet all our needs and He will provide all for us?

God love us and care for us. God bless you .