The Struggle You're Facing is a Test
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After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.
By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
The Struggle You’re Facing is a Test
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THIS MORNING THAT ENJOYED TAKING TESTS OR EXAMS DURING YOUR SCHOOL YEARS?
TEST TAKING IS SOMETHING THAT MOST IF NOT ALL STUDENTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME TIME DURING PRIMARY EDUCATION.
THE PROCESS OF TEST TAKING USUALLY INVOLVES THE TEACHER TEACHING YOU A FUNDAMENTAL OR KNOWLEGDE THAT SHE OR HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN….AND AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT….THE TEACHER WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A TEST THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO TAKE….AND USUALLY IT WAS ON THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT…..
NO MATTER HOW MUCH I PREPARED FOR A TEST, I WAS ALWAYS SOMEWHAT NERVOUS BEFORE TESTING TIME.
I REMEMBER TAKING SPELLING TESTS ON FRIDAYS IN GRADE SCHOOL AND HOW I WOULD STUDY FOR THEM.
I REMEMBER HOW MY PARENTS WOULD GIVE ME A PRE-TEST ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL BEFORE THE ACTUAL TEST.
MOST OF US, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TAKEN MANY TESTS IN SCHOOL, HAD TO TAKE TEST BECAUSE WE WERE REQUIRED TO…. NOT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO OR ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY (AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY BE ONLY HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA) HAVE TO TAKE WHAT’S CALLED AN EOG….OR END OF GRADE TEST …WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MEASURE STUDENT PERFORMANCE ON THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF WHAT THEY LEARNED IN THAT SCHOOL YEAR……AND IF THEY DO NOT PASS, THEY MAY NOT BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE… I CAN IMAGINE THE NERVOUSNESS THAT MANY OF THEM FACE.
IN OUR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME ANXIETY OR NERVOUSNESS…. PREPARING TO TAKE THE SAT OR ACT SO THAT WE COULD GET INTO COLLEGE.
MANY COLLEGES NOW UNDERSTAND THAT TEST RESULTS ARE NOT ALWAYS A SOLID INDICATOR AS TO HOW WELL THE STUDENT WILL MAKE THE ACADEMIC TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE.
SOME OF US MAY OF TAKEN COURSES IN COLLEGE WHERE FINAL YOUR GRADE WAS ONLY BASED ON THE TEST YOU TOOK AND NOT ANY ASSIGNMENTS YOU TURNED IN.
THESE ARE EDUCATIONAL TEST THAT WE FACE IN LIFE THAT WE CAN SOMEWHAT PREPARE FOR.
BUT THEN THERE ARE TEST IN LIFE THAT WE EXPERIENCE THAT CAN CATCH US OFF GUARD OR WE CAN’T PREPARE FOR
….BUT THE GOOD NEWS MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NO MATTER WHAT TEST YOU GO THROUGH….NO MATTER THE STRUGGLE…THE LORD IS FULLY AWARE OF IT AND IT DIDN’T CATCH HIM OFF GUARD.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE IS NO TEST THAT YOU FACE THAT WASN’T ALLOWED BY GOD…FOR MY BIBLE READERS THAT KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT JOB WENT THROUGH. THERE WAS NOT ONE TEST THAT JOB WENT THROUGH THAT GOD DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW ABOUT.
OUR PASSAGE THIS MORNING BEGINS WITH VERY INTERESTING WORDS: “AFTER THESE THINGS GOD TESTED ABRAHAM.” I BELIEVE THE TEXT IS REFERENCING ALL THAT HAD HAPPENED TO ABRAHAM UP UNTIL THIS POINT IN HIS LIFE.
AND SO THAT WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME SHEET OF MUSIC…..LET ME BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE ABRAHAM’S STORY.
GOD INSTRUCTS ABRAHAM TO LEAVE ALL THAT HE KNEW AND ALL THAT WAS COMFORTABLE WITH AND RELOCATE TO A FOREIGN LAND. WE FIND THIS ACCOUNT IN
GENESIS 12
.
AT THE TIME ABRAHAM IS 75 YEARS OLD. IT SEEMS A LITTLE LATE IN LIFE TO MAKE A FAMILY MOVE AND RELOCATION.
• BUT GOD, OF COURSE, DOESN’T JUST TELL HIM TO PACK UP AND GO FOR NO REASON
• THE LORD HAS A PLAN AND A PROMISE FOR ABRAHAM
• HE PROMISES ABRAHAM OFFSPRING AND HE PLANS TO MAKE ABRAHAM A GREAT NATION
• ONE THAT WILL BE A BLESSING TO ALL OTHER NATIONS
GENESIS 11: 30
RECORDS SARAH, HIS WIFE, IS BARREN; BOTH SHE AND ABRAHAM ARE WELL ADVANCED IN YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD CHILDREN AND IT IS HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO HAVE CHILDREN DURING THIS SEASON IN THEIR LIVES
• THE LORD PROMISES THAT A GREAT NATION WILL COME FROM ABRAHAM.
• WE KNOW THAT THIS NATION THAT WILL BE BIRTHED ….
WILL BE THE NATION OF ISRAEL - THE PEOPLE -- THE CHOSEN – THE ELECT OF GOD.
IF WE FAST FORWARD A BIT…AND VISIT GENESIS 17
.
SOME YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE LORD CALLED ABRAHAM AND MADE HIM THIS PROMISE.
IN FACT 24 YEARS HAVE PASSED. ABRAHAM IS NOW 99 YEARS OLD.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS……CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING TO WAIT THAT LONG FOR SOMEONE TO FULFILL THEIR PROMISE MADE TO YOU?
WOULD YOU WAIT THAT LONG OR WOULD YOU TEND TO THINK, I HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH - I GUESS THEY MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN?
IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU FBC…..
IN OUR INSTANT HAVE IT RIGHT NOW CULTURE - I CAN’T IMAGINE ANYONE HAVING PATIENCE ENOUGH TO WAIT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THIS LONG.
IS THAT RIGHT?
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING IN TRAFFIC
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING IN LINE
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING ON HOLD
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING FOR THE WATER TO BOIL
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING IN THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING TOO LONG FOR OUR FOOD AT THE RESTAURANT
• WE DON’T LIKE WAITING FOR THAT RIDE TO PICK US UP
• WE JUST DON’T LIKE WAITING….DOES ANYONE RELATE TO THAT THIS MORNING?
WE SEE THAT ABRAHAM AND SARAH WERE JUST LIKE US.
….
ABRAHAM AND SARAH TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO FULFILL GOD’S PROMISE.
SARAH GIVES ABRAHAM HAGAR……HER MAID SERVANT – AND THROUGH HER….. THEY HAVE ISHMAEL, HIS FIRST-BORN SON.
BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THIS…..IS THAT…..ISHMAEL IS NOT THE PROMISE THAT GOD HAD FOR ABRAHAM AND SARAH.
ISHMAEL IS THE RESULT OF NOT TRUSTING THAT GOD WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISES.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A SELF INFLICTED STRUGGLE….. THIS IS A STRUGGLE THAT THEY BROUGHT ON THEMSELVES
…..IT WAS A STRUGGLE BE CAUSE WE SEE THAT SOON AFTER HAGAR CONCEIVED …….
EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SARAH’S IDEA…..SHE STARTED TO GIVE HAGAR THE SIDE EYE….
AND AS SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE SAY TODAY……HAGAR WAS ABOUT TO GET THE SMOKE FROM SARAH…….
SARAH WANTED ABRAHAM TO DEAL WITH HAGAR ……AND HE WOULD EVENTUALLY PUT HER OUT THE HOUSE….BECAUSE OF SARAH’S JEALOUSY
IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU THIS MORNING…..
• WE HAVE ISHMAEL’S IN OUR LIVES WE ARE STILL DEALING WITH – BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT WAIT
• WE HAVE ISHMAEL’S IN OUR LIVES THAT CAUSE US FRUSTRATION – BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MOVE IN OUR TIME.
• WE HAVE ISHMAEL’S IN OUR LIVES THAT CAUSE US A WHOLE LOT OF STRESS – BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT WAIT ON GOD
• WE HAVE ISHMAEL’S IN OUR LIVES THAT CAUSE US MANY RESTLESS AND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS – BECAUSE WE TOOK MATTERS INTO OUR OWN HANDS INSTEAD OF WAITING ON GOD…
DO I HAVE SOMEONE THIS MORNING… THE STRUGGLE YOUR FACING IS A TEST
IN THIS SAME CHAPTER THE LORD RENEWS HIS PROMISE OF CHILDREN TO ABRAHAM, AND, MORE SPECIFICALLY, TELLS ABRAHAM THAT HE WILL HAVE A SON AND HE IS TO NAME HIM ISAAC.
BUT ABRAHAM STILL DOESN’T BELIEVE.
HE LAUGHS IN DISBELIEF, FOR HE IS NEARLY 100 YEARS OLD AND SARAH IS 90. HOW COULD THEY POSSIBLY HAVE CHILDREN NOW?
ABRAHAM THEN BEGS THE LORD TO BLESS ISHMAEL AND ASKS THE LORD TO MAKE HIM THE CHILD OF THE PROMISE.
THE LORD AGREES TO BLESS ISHMAEL, BUT TELLS ABRAHAM THAT HE WILL ESTABLISH HIS COVENANT WITH ISAAC.
ISHMAEL MAY RECEIVE A BLESSING, BUT ISAAC WILL BE THE CHILD OF THE PROMISE.
AND IF WE FAST FORWARD….JUST A LITTLE MORE…….WE SEE THE JOY ARRIVES IN GENESIS 21
WHEN THE CHILD OF PROMISE IS BORN.
SARAH GIVES BIRTH TO ISAAC.
SHE SAYS IN GENESIS 21:6 “GOD HAS BROUGHT LAUGHTER FOR ME; EVERYONE WHO HEARS WILL LAUGH WITH ME.”
THE PROMISE THE LORD MADE TO ABRAHAM IS FULFILLED.
AND THE PROMISE IS FULFILLED IN THE FACE OF IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.
A BARREN WIFE. AN AGED MAN.
AFTER YEARS OF ENDLESS WAITING. THE PLAN HAS COME TO PASS AS THEY SAY.
GOD WILL MAKE ABRAHAM’S NAME GREAT AND THROUGH THIS JOYFUL, PROMISED OFFSPRING, THROUGH THIS SON, ISAAC, A GREAT NATION WILL COME, ONE THAT WILL BLESS THE WHOLE EARTH.
THE STRUGGLE YOUR FACING IS A TEST…….
WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT A TEST IS USED TO PROVE SOMETHING
A DRIVER’S LICENSE TEST PROVES YOUR ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE
HISTORY TESTS IN SCHOOL PROVE OR DISPROVE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY
A SCREEN TEST PROVES YOUR ABILITY TO ACT
AN EYE TEST PROVES OR DISPROVES THAT YOU NEED TO WEAR GLASSES.
EVERY TEST IS MEANT TO PROVE SOMETHING
WHAT IS THIS TEST OF ABRAHAM MEANT TO PROVE?
HIS TEST WAS MEANT TO PROVE THAT HE TRUSTS GOD IN EVERY SITUATION….EVERY TIME….NO MATTER HOW IT MAY LOOK….. AND THAT HE IS COMMITTED TO GOD ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS.
GOD DECIDES TO TEST ABRAHAM’S FAITH, AND HOW DOES HE TEST ABRAHAM? THE LORD CALLS ABRAHAM TO OFFER HIS SON – THIS SON OF PROMISE – ISAAC, AS A BURNT OFFERING.
AND I BELIEVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS….THAT WHAT EVER STRUGGLE YOU ARE FACED WITH IS A TEST…AND NO MATTER HOW IT LOOKS…..YOU MUST TRUST IN GOD TO GET YOU THROUGH……
JESUS NEVER SAID THAT WE WILL NOT GO THROUGH TROUBLES AND HARDSHIPS……BECAUSE HE WENT THROUGH TROUBLES……
JOHN 16:33
***PAUSE*****
NOW LET’S THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ISAAC IS THE CHILD OF THE PROMISE OF GOD
IT IS THROUGH ISAAC THAT THE LORD HAS PROMISED TO MAKE OF ABRAHAM A GREAT NATION THAT WILL BLESS ALL OTHER NATIONS
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ABRAHAM HAS WAITED MORE THAN 25 YEARS FOR THIS PROMISE TO BE FULFILLED
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THIS PROMISE COULD ONLY BE KEPT BY GOD SINCE THERE WAS NO WAY ABRAHAM AND SARAH WOULD HAVE CHILDREN OTHERWISE
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT ISAAC IS THE HINGE ON WHICH THE PROMISE OF GOD SWINGS.
AND YET GOD ASKS ABRAHAM TO OFFER HIS SON AS A BURNT OFFERING.
THIS MEANS THE LORD IS ASKING ABRAHAM:
TO GIVE UP THE VERY SOURCE OF HOPE
THE VERY MEANS OF THE PROMISE OF A GREAT NATION BEING FULFILLED
THE LORD IS ASKING ABRAHAM IF HE WILL TRUST AND OBEY,
EVEN IF IT MEANS GIVING UP THE VERY THING FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR ALL THESE YEARS
THE LORD IS ASKING ABRAHAM TO DO THE SEEMINGLY UNTHINKABLE
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I WONDER WHAT ABRAHAM MUST HAVE BEEN FEELING WHILE MAKING THE JOURNEY TO MT. MORIAH.
AND WE WONDER WHAT ISAAC MUST HAVE FELT, TOO, ESPECIALLY WHEN ABRAHAM BEGAN TYING HIM DOWN ON THE ALTAR.
BUT WE ARE GIVEN NO CLUES TO THEIR EMOTIONAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES.
THE BIBLE DOES NOT GIVE US A BREAK DOWN ON DETAIL WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.
THE STORY DOES, HOWEVER, TELL US SOME THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE KNOW THAT:
• ABRAHAM TRUSTED THE LORD
• OBEDIENCE IS A SIGN OF TRUST, IT IS TRUST IN ACTION
• DESPITE THE FACT THAT ISAAC WAS THE SON OF PROMISE, ABRAHAM CONTINUED TO TRUST THAT THE LORD WOULD STILL FULFILL THE PROMISE SOMEHOW EVEN IF HE DOESN’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW
WHEN ISAAC ASKS WHERE THE LAMB FOR THE BURNT OFFERING IS, ABRAHAM SIMPLY TELLS HIM THAT THE LORD WILL PROVIDE A LAMB.
I RECALL MY OLD TESTAMENT PROFESSOR (WHO IS NOW IN GLORY WITH THE LORD) SPEAKING ON THIS PASSAGE….. HIS COMMENTS WAS “BY THIS POINT ABRAHAM STAYS ON COURSE BECAUSE HE TRUSTS THAT GOD WILL ACT TO SAVE ISAAC. HE CONVEYS TO ISAAC WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS FUTURE: “GOD WILL PROVIDE.”
THE LORD DOES PROVIDE OF COURSE. AND ABRAHAM CALLS THE PLACE “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE.”
ABRAHAM, EVEN WITH WHAT THE LORD IS ASKING HIM TO DO, HE STILL TRUSTS THE LORD.
I STOPPED BY HERE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH…TO LET YOU KNOW THIS MORNING –
THE STRUGGLE YOUR FACING IS A TEST……
WE, OF COURSE, KNOW THAT GOD IS TESTING ABRAHAM.
WE’RE TOLD THIS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TEXT. ABRAHAM IS NOT PRIVY TO THIS INFORMATION THAT THE AUTHOR SHARES WITH US.
IT WOULDN’T BE MUCH OF A TEST IF HE DID.
THIS IS A PIECE OF INFORMATION WE HAVE.
BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A TEST MAY BE THE AUTHOR’S WAY OF TELLING US THAT GOD DOES NOT INTEND TO LET ABRAHAM GO THROUGH WITH THIS SACRIFICE.
THIS REMINDS ME OF THOSE ALERTS THAT WOULD BE ON TV YEARS AGO.
BACK IN THE DAY EVERY NOW AND THEN THE TV ANNOUNCER WOULD INTERRUPT SAYING -- THIS IS A TEST OF THE EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM - ” WHEN IT SAYS IT IS A TEST, THERE IS NO REAL EMERGENCY -- THERE IS NO REAL DANGER -IT’S ONLY A TEST.
BUT THERE IS A PURPOSE TO THE TEST.
THE LORD WANTED ABRAHAM TO BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE ISAAC.
AS FAR AS ABRAHAM IS CONCERNED, THE LORD MIGHT VERY WELL MAKE HIM GO THROUGH WITH THIS.
HE MIGHT, THIS VERY DAY, LOSE HIS ONLY SON, THE SON OF PROMISE, THE SON HE AND SARAH THOUGHT THEY COULD NEVER HAVE.
THIS STORY IS A VARIATION OF ABRAHAM’S CALL IN
GENESIS 12
. THE LORD IS ASKING HIM:
• DO YOU TRUST ME?
• DO YOU TRUST THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS I WILL FULFILL MY PROMISE?
• DO YOU TRUST THAT THE STORM WILL NOT DESTROY YOU?
• WILL YOU OBEY ME EVEN WHEN IT DOESN’T SEEM TO MAKE SENSE?
• WILL YOU GO WHERE I ASK YOU TO GO?
• WILL YOU DO WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO?
• WILL YOU SAY WHAT I ASK YOU TO SAY?
PASTOR RICK WARREN IN HIS BOOK ENTITLED “THE PURPOSE DRIVEN LIVE.” STATES THAT – “ALL OF LIFE IS A TEST.”
LIFE IS FULL OF TESTS, FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE, BUT LIFE ITSELF IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST:
• HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE?
• AS ONE OF FAITH AND TRUST AND OBEDIENCE?
• THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT IN SOME FORM WERE FACING ABRAHAM HERE AND THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE
• THESE ARE THE SAME CHALLENGES AND TESTS THAT WE FACE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVING
• DO YOU REALIZE TODAY THAT YOUR STRUGGLE IS A TEST…..
WHATEVER WE MIGHT SAY ABOUT ABRAHAM’S TRUST IN THE LORD, AND HOW HE THOUGHT THE LORD WOULD PROVIDE, HE WAS STILL HUMAN.
HE DIDN’T KNOW FOR SURE HOW GOD WOULD PROVIDE.
HE DIDN’T KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE ISAAC OR IF HE DID WHETHER GOD MIGHT RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD. WHEN THE LORD ASKS US TO DO SOMETHING – AND WE KNOW THAT HE IS DOING SO DEEP IN OUR SOUL AND IN OUR HEART – THEN HE SIMPLY WANTS US TO DO IT.
• LIKE OUR PASSAGE, THE CLEAR MEANING OF WHAT THE LORD ASKS US TO DO OR TO SACRIFICE WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND OR COMPREHEND….
• WE ARE NOT ALWAYS CALLED TO UNDERSTAND BUT WE ARE ALWAYS CALLED TO OBEY HIS VOICE
• SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT DEFIES LOGIC – BUT HOW MANY IN HERE TONIGHT….KNOW….
GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS – GOD’S THOUGHTS ARE HIGHER THAN OUR THOUGHTS
THE FACT IS THAT THE LORD TESTS EACH OF US.
YOUR STRUGGLE IS ONLY A TEST …….
• THERE WILL BE TIMES IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE WHEN IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TRUST AND OBEY GOD
• THERE WILL BE TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WILL SEEM TO MAKE NO SENSE
• THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE DIRECTION GOD IS TAKING YOU SEEMS TO BE THE WRONG WAY
• THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN THE THINGS THAT GOD IS TELLING YOU TO DO OR TO GIVE UP WILL BE VERY COSTLY AND DEMANDING
• IT WILL REQUIRE GREAT TRUST AND COMMITMENT
• IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TRUST AND OBEY GOD DURING THESE TIMES
• IT IS DURING THESE TIMES THAT WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND – YOUR STRUGGLE IS ONLY A TEST.
I’M ABOUT TO CLOSE AND TAKE MY SEAT…..BUT LET ME FIRST SHARE THIS WITH YOU….
THE TESTING OF ABRAHAM IS ALSO ABOUT WORSHIP.
THE WHOLE STORY IS ABOUT WORSHIP.
THE LORD ASKS ABRAHAM TO WORSHIP HIM BY PRESENTING ISAAC AS A BURNT OFFERING.
THAT’S WHAT BURNT OFFERINGS WERE FOR. ABRAHAM TELLS HIS SERVANTS WE “WILL GO OVER THERE; WE WILL WORSHIP.”
AND AFTER THE LORD INTERVENED JUST BEFORE ABRAHAM BROUGHT DOWN THE KNIFE, THE LORD PROVIDED A RAM AND ABRAHAM SACRIFICED IT AND WORSHIPPED.
IT’S ALMOST AS THOUGH THE LORD IS ASKING ABRAHAM: “WILL YOU WORSHIP ME NO MATTER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES YOU FACE?
• WILL YOU WORSHIP ME WHEN YOU CAN’T HEAR MY VOICE?
• WILL YOU WORSHIP ME WHEN ALL YOU SEE IS CONFUSION
• WILL YOU WORSHIP ME WHEN YOUR SOUL IS HEAVY?
• WILL YOU WORSHIP ME WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL MY PRESENCE?
BECAUSE ABRAHAM TRUSTED AND OBEYED, HE ALSO WORSHIPPED.
TRUST LIVED OUT IN OBEDIENCE IS A FORM OF WORSHIP.
THIS TELLS US THAT A LACK OF TRUST AND OBEDIENCE INTEFERES WITH OUR WORSHIP OF THE LORD.
HOW CAN WE TRULY WORSHIP GOD UNLESS WE TRUST HIM AND OBEY HIM?
BUT WHEN WE TRUST AND OBEY, LIKE ABRAHAM, WE MAKE POSSIBLE A LIFE OF WORSHIP.
ABRAHAM’S STORY IS ONE THAT REMINDS US THAT EVEN THE MOST FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT FOLLOWERS OF GOD EXPERIENCE DOUBT AND DISBELIEF.
ABRAHAM DOUBTED AT TIMES, AND EVEN LAUGHED AT THE LORD’S PROMISES.
HE WAS IMPATIENT, AND ALLOWED SARAH TO CONVINCE HIM TO HAVE A CHILD THROUGH THEIR SERVANT GIRL TO SPEED UP THE PROMISE.
NONE OF US IS EVER 100% PERFECT IN OUR FAITH OR IN OUR OBEDIENCE.
WE ALL WAVER.
WE ALL WONDER AT TIMES.
BUT OUR ASSURANCE IS THAT OUR TRUST AND OBEDIENCE, OUR FAITH, EVEN OUR DOUBTS AND FAITHLESSNESS, TAKE PLACE IN THE CONTEXT OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH A PERSONAL GOD WHO REVEALS HIMSELF AS ONE WHO LOVES US, AND WHO TESTS US PRECISELY BECAUSE HE LOVES US.
WE CAN ALL SEE THIS DRAMA THAT UNFOLDS BEFORE US AS A MAJOR DEFINING MOMENT, OR TEST OF FAITH, IN THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM.
THIS MAN LOVED HIS SON AS ANY FATHER LOVES HIS CHILDREN, BUT HE WAS WILLING TO DO AS THE LORD HAD COMMANDED; HE WAS READY TO OFFER HIS ONLY SON AS AN OFFERING.
- I ONCE READ A PERSON ASK WHAT KIND OF VICIOUS FATHER WOULD OFFER HIS SON AS AN OFFERING?
-I DON’T KNOW WHAT KIND OF VICIOUS FATHER -- BUT I KNOW A LOVING FATHER
-I KNOW A FATHER THAT LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH THAT HE SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON ON AN OLD RUGGED CROSS
-I KNOW A FATHER WHO DESIGNED A PLAN THAT COULD ONLY BE CARRIED OUT BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIS ONLY SON
-I KNOW A FATHER WHO PEEKED INTO THE PORTALS OF TIME AND REALIZED THAT I NEED A SAVIOR
-I KNOW A FATHER WHO WOULD SACRIFICE HIS SON AND SEND HIM FROM JUDGMENT HALL TO JUDGMENT HALL
-I KNOW A FATHER WHO LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTON SON
-I KNOW A FATHER WHO SAYS:
-- ALTHOUGH YOU ACT LIKE YOU DON’T TRUST ME
-- ALTHOUGH YOU DON’T ALWAYS FOLLOW ME
-- ALTHOUGH YOU DON’T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE CHRISTIANS
-- I WILL SACRIFICE MY SON FOR THE REMISSION OF YOUR SINS
BECAUSE JESUS DIED FOR MY SINS AND YOURS – I’M SO GLAD TODAY – THIS IS ONLY A TEST