Genesis 22 ”Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
Can you imagine hearing the voice of God telling you to do such an insane thing? But Abraham had astounding faith and he recognized the voice of God. Don’t know about you, I have trouble with both having faith and recognizing the voice of God. But Abraham responded immediately “Here I am.” He had an ear for hearing God. There was no confusion, no arguing, no questioning, no “but God…. but…. you said….” just obedience and preparations for the journey to the mountain of sacrifice. How could he take Isaac, his only son, one that he had waited on for almost 100 years, and embark on this journey to sacrificial death? Genesis 22:5 perhaps provides a clue. When Abraham, Isaac, the donkey, and 2 servants arrived at the mountain, Abraham told the servants to stay with the donkey and “we (Isaac and Abraham) will come back to you.” I think he knew all along that God would provide, he just didn’t have the details yet. It was his tremendous faith in God that allowed him to take Isaac on a journey which to the natural eye appeared to be a death trap. Abraham knew God and exercised faith in God that he would fulfill his promises. True to form, Abraham pulled out his knife and was ready to slay his only son just as God had ordered. But once again, Abraham’s keen sense and ability to discern and hear the voice of God was immediate. An angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham! And once again he replied, “Here I am.” Most of you know how the story ended, but just in case, read the outcome in Genesis 22:-15. He was not to lay a hand on the boy. The Lord provided a ram for sacrifice.
Abraham must have had faith that God is a God of unlimited provision. He called the place “The Lord will Provide.” ”On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” What is this mountain of the Lord? Mountains often symbolize a tower of strength, immovable, permanent, wisdom, power, protection and magnificent beauty.
What aspects of your life do you need to exercise faith in God’s promises? In your marriage, your relationships, your career, family, children, personal health? I believe we can approach the “mountain of the Lord” where he provides a source of wisdom, strength, power, and protection from sin, from discouragement, guilt, shame, depression, anger, and various addictions. Has God “promised” something to you but you don’t have the “details” just yet?
Yes, but “I’m not faithful like Abraham, I’ve had sin in my life,” or “I’ve made so many mistakes that I don’t think God would answer my prayers.”
Let me remind you that even though Abraham had tremendous, unwavering faith, he also demonstrated a lack of faith and even entered into sin on numerous occasions. Let me start by listing a couple. He lied about his wife Sarah being his sister on at least 2 separate occasions to protect himself. Perhaps he is best known for sleeping with the maidservant Hagar and getting her pregnant with Ishmael. Significant consequences followed each of these sinful acts, but God was faithful and so was Abraham. The New Testament refers to Abraham as “father of faith” not “that sinner who slept with Hagar.”
We’ve all sinned and fallen short of our high calling, but we can and must abide with our God on the mountain of provision each day.