Wayne and I have read a little ahead of the schedule. We pondered and reread Chapter 22 together this evening for the second time. Wayne commented on how difficult it would be to be willing to sacrifice your own son. Abraham had to have so much faith to be willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Do we have enough faith to be willing to do all that God commands us?
The Old Testament is centered around our Savior, Jesus Christ and the people were looking forward to his birth here on earth. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son just as our Heavenly Father allowed his own son, Jesus Christ, to be sacrificed. Am I willing to sacrifice everything if the Lord required this of me? I would hope that I would be willing and I can apply this principle to how I live my own life every day by looking at my thoughts and actions. Am I living as the Savior wants me to? When I have a difficult choice to make do I think first, "What would Jesus do?"
How would you apply the things that you have read this week to your own life?
7 comments:
Last week was a little ahead now a little behind Should catch up tonight though. Every time I read about Abraham's faith in being willing to sacrifice his own son I think about your question. As much as my faith is could I have done as Abraham did? I don't know but then I remember that my grandmother always said God will not give you more than you can handle. He knew Abraham was capable of this faith, It was up to Abraham to make the decisionto follow through.
I sometimes fall short in asking for the Lords help in daily things but He is where I turn for all major things (at least I try).
I really have been enjoying reading Genesis.
I learn two things from this week's reading. Its never impossible. Both Abraham and Sarah thought they were too old to have a baby and it wouldn't happened. They believe God and they had their son Isaac. All things are possible.
I agree with you on Abraham, Kathy. I think a lot of us having things we can't live without and wouldn't give up.
I think Abraham didn't want to sacrifice his son since it was hard for him and Sarah to conceived and he didn't want to kill his son, but you never know what God has in store for you when you obey him. When Abraham obeyed God's order something else happened and he didn't have to sacrifice his son.
During the reading this week I found myself thinking alot of Sarah and her faith....posing as her husband's sister, watching as her husband takes her only child off to make a sacrifice with no animal...Her faith is amazing also. I think I would have laughed too if I was told I would be having a child at such an age. Just a reminder that all things are possible with God. HOw many of us would be Lot's wife and want to take that last look?
I think the faith Abraham had is something to strive for. Could I, even in those times when God talked directly to people, or now through the Bible, scarifice my son? I would hope I have enough faith that I would act like Abraham because I really believe Abraham would have gone through with it and God being the awesome God that he is KNEW what Abraham would do and provided him with a scarifice other than his son. Amazing! I belive in the providence of God.
to me the passage of Abraham willingness to sacrifice his son now (you know how what get get out of the Bible changes as we change) tells me about the willingness (based on faith) to go through something that it may seem "bad" on the surface (how much worse can it get than sacrificing your own son?) knowing that the situation is not how we see it, but it is how God sees it. How do we become willing? How do we act knowing/trusting that His Plan is ultimately generous, loving, merciful?
Maybe begin with baby steps?
thanks for this great blog!
I just started reading Genisis last weekend and am behind all of you. After reading the covenant made between God and Noah I am going to look at rainbows in a different light. God will set his "bow" in the sky as a sign of his covenant. So, from now on when I see a rainbow in the sky, I will not look for the pot of gold at the end of it, but instead remember it as the covenant between God and Noah.
Lori - Chicago
I have read this story so many times, it is hard to think of giving up your son/daughter. Abraham must have believed that he was going to have to sacrifice his son, but he also believed that God would restore him - in verse 5 - Abraham told those who were with him to wait, that he and Isaac were going to sacrifice and that "WE" will come back to you. That demonstrated alot of faith in his Lord as well!! I always think of what I would be willing to give God if He asked me to, sometimes there are things that I have trouble giving Him - I pray that my faith will grow into something even close to that of Abraham.
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