Abraham: Faith under siege | Diet 10

 

FAITH IS TOTAL LOVE 

Faith is a total dedication. Look at Gen22:1-2, "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, (isn't that amazing God said he had only one son?) whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." 

Faith is total commitment and faith is total love. This was the hardest day of Abraham's life. It was easier to fight all the kings of Babylon than to do this. Why did God ask Abraham to do such a thing? Perhaps it was because of Isaac. He was now 10 or 12 years old and Abraham was 100 when he was born, so he had spent the last 10 or 12 years kissing that boy. He had been so busy hugging and loving him, he had not said much to God for 10 years! God looked down and said to him, "Abraham, you used to talk to me a lot. Now you are doing all your talking to Isaac. Abraham, you say you love me with all your heart. Take your son three days journey to Mt.Moriah and offer him up as an offering on an altar for me." This was a severe test of Abraham's faith. How could he make that decision? God had told him that his son would bless all nations, and God could not lie. So whatever God said later, that had to stand. His son had to live; he didn't know how, but he did know he had to bless all nations. At Mt. Moriah, Abraham put the stones together, placed his wood on the stones, put his pot of fire right there, and got some kindling ready. He looked at his boy and said, "Son, do you love your daddy?" "Yes, sir." "Son, God told me to offer you up as a sacrifice. I do not understand it, but I want to tell you something, Isaac. I will never leave here without you. If you burn to death in that fire, I will never leave here without you. 

I will die at this spot. I will not move two feet without you with me. Do you believe me?" "Yes, Daddy. Put me on there; I'm ready right now." And the father, 112 years old, still strong and powerful, laid him on the altar. Abraham raised his right arm with that sword he had made in his own blacksmith shop, and as he started to bring it down, God said, "Hold it, hold it! Quick, hold it now! Do not get any closer! I know that you love me. I know that I am first in your life. Abraham, look back there"—and right beside him was God's sacrifice!

He reached and got that ram, and with Isaac beside him, they offered a burnt offering unto Jehovah. (Genesis 22). Is that all? No. God said, "Abraham, look north from where you are." There were no buildings and there were no walls at that moment as God said, "See that strange looking hill over there about three stones throw away?" "Yes, I see that, Lord." "See those funny places that look like eyes?" "Yes, they do look like eyes, that's right. God said, "See the front part in the face?"

"Yes, it looks like a skull. Look on top, Lord, It looks like two trees crossing each other. I see people on them. I never saw anything like that." They knew nothing about crucifixion in his day. God said, "How many?" Abraham said, "I see three." "Look real close at the one in the middle,

Abraham. That's my son, and he will be the sacrifice to save the whole world!" Jesus said, "...Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.!" (John 8:56).

Abraham saw why he had to take his son to Mt. Moriah. Jesus could not die anywhere except Jerusalem because Abraham had been there with his son when he looked 1500 to 1800 years into the future and saw the Son of God die for the whole world, in a means of death not known at that time. They had not used crosses for execution in his day. Jesus did not come for anything else except Calvary, to die for the sins of the world.

 When you get to a place of total consecration, you receive from God as you would never receive any other time in your life. 

 At the end of yourself is where God stands. From the bottom is where God picks you up. Don't give up on yourself, don't give up on God's promise. You don't need to understand the process, you only have to trust His words. It doesn't matter hopeless a situation is, God is capable of restoring it in just a moment. 

Don't give up, He's not done with you yet!

Author: Lester Sumrall 

Compiled and edited by: Peter O. Olutoyese