“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Issac…” – Hebrews 11:17-19 (KJV)
The name Jehovah means “I AM – the One Who is the self-existent One.” It speaks to the fact that God has always been and will always be. He does not change, and His promises never fail. Even when we’re faithless, God is still faithful. When Abram was despairing of ever having an heir, God promised descendants too numerous to imagine (Genesis 15:2-6). God’s blessings are beyond our imaginations.
Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made him right with God (Romans 4:1-5). We, too, can have a right relationship with God by trusting Him with our lives. Our outward actions, church attendance, prayer, and good deeds will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith – the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do.
God’s covenant with Abram was serious business. It represented an incredible promise from God and a huge responsibility for Abram. To confirm His promise, God gave Abram a sign – the smoking furnace and burning lamp (Genesis 15:17). God took the initiative, gave the confirmation, and followed through on His promises.
The sign to Abram was a visible assurance to him that the covenant that God had made was real. God did not want Isaac to die, but he wanted Abraham (name changed) to sacrifice Isaac in his heart so it would be clear that Abraham loved God more than he loved his promise and long-awaited son (Genesis 22:1-18). God was testing Abraham, and the purpose of testing is to strengthen our character and deepen our commitment to God. Through this difficult experience, Abraham strengthened his commitment to obey God and proved His first love. He also learned about God’s ability to provide.
If you’re afraid to trust God with your most prized possession/love, pay attention to Abraham’s example. Because he was willing to give up everything for God, he received more than he could have imagined.
Prayer
Lord, You are our Jehovah Jireh, the great Provider. Thank You for supplying all of our needs according to Your riches and glory. Amen.
Read: Exodus 3:14; Psalm 23:1-4
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 22:7-16; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Isaiah 20; Isaiah 21; Isaiah 22; Isaiah 23
Amen
God indeed do test our faith to see how much we love him and how much we put our trust in him. God uses Abraham’s story to have that faith in him. Don’t what situation faces us he just want us to trust him. He is a good good God. He never leaves us nor forsake us. He is a present help in the time of needs and trouble .