Obedience is the Key that unlocks the Blessings of God

Overview of Abraham’s Life

God chose Abraham (Gen 12:1-3)

God called Abram out of a world of idolatry that he might become God’s own servant.

Abram responded to God’s call. (Gen 12:4)

Abram left Ur and sojourned to the Land of Promise

God revealed Himself and His purposes to Abram (Gen 12:7a)

God told Abram that He (God) was going to bless the nations and that He was going to use Abram in the process

Abram built altars for God (Gen 12:7b-8)

Abram journeyed through Canaan and built places of worship to the One True God. As he built the altars, Abram called on the Name of YHWH - he introduced the name of the Covenant God in the midst of a hostile and pagan environment

God promised to bless Abram and to be his reward (Gen 15:1)

God appeared to Abram and told him that he and Sarah would have a child and that they would receive an increase in wealth and status as well.

Abraham believed the LORD (Gen 15:6)

Abraham could not understand how he and Sarah could physically bring forth a child in their old age. It was not only difficult, it was physically impossible. He struggled with this and he questioned God about it. When God told Abraham that his descendants would be so vast that it would not be possible to count them, Abraham trusted God - Abraham simply believed the LORD.

God revealed Himself as Holy and as a God who judges sin (Gen 18:17-21)

The LORD visited Abraham and informed him that He (God) was going to judge Sodom and Gomorrah for their sexual immorality. Their wickedness was well known (Gen 13:3) and the time was at hand.

Abram was moved to intercede for sinners (Gen 18:22-33)

Abraham cared about the fate of others. He was safe and out of harm’s way, but he was concerned for others. He went to God and asked for mercy. In the asking, God revealed Himself to Abraham as righteous AND compassionate.

The LORD fulfilled His promise (Gen 21:1)

The LORD God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a son, and He brought it to pass. God fulfilled His promise in His timing (25 years later), but He kept His word!

Abraham and Sarah testified to God’s faithfulness (Gen 21:6-8)

Sarah gave witness to God’s miraculous power in the birth of her son. Abraham was obedient in the act of circumcision and then celebrated with a public feast for God’s honor and His goodness.

God tested Abraham in the area of loyalty and worship (Gen 22:1-2)

God is the ONLY one worthy of our ultimate worship. He will reveal His glory to everyone, but He will share it with no one. God IS the giver of good gifts, but He will NOT tolerate His people making idols out of them.

Abraham obeyed God through an act of trust and worship (Gen 22:3-14; Hebrews 11:17-19)

Abraham took Isaac to Mount Moriah for the purpose of offering him as a sacrifice. He did not delay or deviate. Abraham loved Isaac, but his love for God was greater. He did not understand how God would do it, but Abraham trusted in God’s Promise (‘in Isaac shall your seed be called”)

Personal Application for your life

God has revealed Himself to you through His word and you have heard the Gospel of Christ.

Have you responded in faith? Have you been convicted by the Holy Spirit that your sin has separated you from the Lord God? Have you repented of your sin and surrendered your life to Christ as Lord and Savior?

2. God reveals His purposes to His children through the Word, His Spirit, and through the worship of the Church.

Have you built any altars to the One True God? Are you talking about Jesus in the midst of hostile territory? Are we planting the banner of the Cross?

3. God has promised to bless you and to be your reward.

Do your trust His provision for the day? Are you walking in faith or by sight? When your situation seems impossible or hopeless, do you believe that He will do what He has promised?

4. God has not changed nor has His holiness lessened. In His righteousness, God still judges sin.

Are we broken over the sin of others? Do we care about lost people who are hostile to the ways of God? Do we relate to the Psalmist?

“Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law” (Ps 119:136)

Are we asking God to save specific lost people - are we interceding for them because we actually care for them?

5. God IS a Promise Keeper. He has promised that He will never leave His children; He has promised that His grace is sufficient for every challenge; He has promised to provide for our every need.

Are you trusting in the LORD our are you trying to deal with the difficulties of life on your own. Believers can still fall in the trap of trying to “fix our own problems,” but the attempt always falls short. Instead, we can rest in the promises of God and then tell others what a great God we serve!

6. God continues to test our hearts so that He will have first place.

Have you laid down your “Isaac?” Are you and I sold out to Jesus? Does God have 1st place?

CONCLUSION: Note Abraham’s response to the call of God - in the Hebrew it is simply, “Here I.”

Here I (v. 2) Abraham was reporting for duty, even before God had laid out the challenge.

Here I (v. 7) Abraham responds to Isaac’s question without evasion.

Here I (v. 11) Abraham again has a ready response to the call of God, this time with great thankfulness for God’s intervention

Is this your response? Is it mine?