Genesis 22:1-19
Tuesday, 20 August 2024
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” -Genesis 22:18
There is blessing that comes with faith! We see through the Scriptures that an obedient life of faith paves the way for GOD’s blessing in a person’s life. Sometimes that blessing is not just limited to the person or his immediate generation but to many generations to come—all because he took the step of faith in obedience!
The faith life as exemplified by Abraham did not mushroom overnight—it was a gradual process of learning to trust the God who had called him. From leaving his familiar ground (home), to living in tents, to trusting God for an offspring until God’s time and then the call to sacrifice his dear son… the steps of faith in action were many. But in each test of faith, God enabled Abraham to triumph as he continued putting his faith in Him.
In our reading today we see the call to sacrifice his son, the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. It is not difficult for us to imagine how as a father he would have struggled in his mind and the many doubts that would have beset him about the promise of GOD given to him earlier, that He would establish His covenant with Isaac and his descendants (Genesis 17: 19). On the way when Isaac asked his father about the lamb for the burnt offering, we see the faith of Abraham in his reply: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” (Gen.22:8). Abraham was willing to take the step to slay his son on the altar, believing GOD was able to raise him up even from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). And GOD rewarded his faith!
The Lord revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh- “The-LORD-Will-Provide” to Abraham (Gen. 22:14). In providing a ram as the substitute sacrifice for Isaac, God was pointing that He would provide the ultimate Lamb, His Son Jesus- who would become the sacrifice for the sin of all humankind. That’s God’s provision for the atonement for man’s sin!
GOD told Abraham that in his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Here the promise is not just to his immediate seed, Isaac, but to his descendants, the nation of Israel culminating in the Promised Seed in his line- Jesus Christ Himself! (Galatians 3: 16). Jesus Christ, the descendant of Isaac and Abraham has become a blessing in the provision He has made for the salvation of all humankind! Through Christ Jesus we receive the blessing of Salvation!
Well the blessing just doesn’t stop with that; look at Galatians 3:14: “…that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Every believer indwelt by the Spirit of God is entitled to the blessing of Abraham through Christ Jesus. He then in turn becomes a channel of blessing in taking the gospel- the salvation in Christ Jesus to all the nations of the earth! The obedient faith of one man has brought blessing from generation to generation to many!
Faith pleases GOD! Steps of faith may be hard but possible with trusting GOD and envisioning the blessing at the end of the process! Have you received Christ Jesus by faith into your life? Receive that blessing first; then may you become a channel of blessing to many!
Think on it: “...that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1Peter 1:7)
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