SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/04/2006
My Worship Time Focus: Focus on Promises, not Explanations
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Genesis 22:3-5
Message of the verse: “3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’”
Genesis 22:5 is one of the most remarkable verses in all of the Scriptures when you consider exactly what is being said there and the amount of faith in God’s promises is being shown there by Abraham. Abraham said to his servants that he and his son would go and worship and return to these men. Even when God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son that the promise of the covenant rested upon, Abraham was thinking about worshiping God, and that is very, very remarkable to me.
Abraham was focusing upon the promises of God and not on any explanations as to why was this happening to him or his son, he only was trusting upon the promises of God that God had spoken to him and is now recorded in the Word of God. This is how his faith grew, that is by believing on the promises and obeying the Word of God.
Dr Wiersbe
points out that “our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what
seems unbearable, do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems
impossible. Whether you look at Joseph
in prison, Moses and
Here are some of the reasons why believers go through trials: 1. to purify our faith (1Peter 1:6-9), 2. Perfect our character) James 1:1-4), 3. To protect us from sin (2 Cor 12:7-10).
The promises that Abraham believed came from Genesis 21:12, “in Isaac shall thy see be called.” Hebrews tells us that in a sense Abraham truly did receive Isaac back from the dead.
Since I wrote this SD I heard that Jewish tradition states that Sarah, Abraham’s wife never spoke to him after what he did in chapter 22.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: To live by the promises of God, and not ask for explanations from Him is truly a difficult thing to do, but in order for my faith to increase it is something that truly has to be done. I cannot think of a promise in the Scriptures that says that God will return my investments to me at some point in time; however I can live by the promise that He will never leave me nor forsake me, and that is a difference maker to me. My faith in the Lord would not be as strong as it is at this point in my life without this test that He has sent my way, and for that I can worship the Lord.
The Word of God has been challenging to my heart along with being refreshment to me as I read and studied it this morning.
My Steps of Faith Today: To focus on the promises and not on any explanations. To trust the Lord to continue to teach me contentment, and to direct my path.
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