Blessed Through Obedience

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” Genesis 22:1-2 NLT

For the most part, parents judge their children based on the way they respond to them. If a child is attentive and reliable, the parents are happy. If the child fluctuates between being attentive and being reliable, the parents are not so happy because they feel that they cannot depend on the child. Then there is the child that is every parent’s nightmare: the child that is neither attentive nor reliable. In other words, parents place a high priority on obedience.

God also places a high priority on obedience. Here God decided to put Abraham to the test.  He went to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son. I’m not sure that any parent would willingly give up one of their children as a sacrifice. But Abraham had one son: the son of promise. God wanted Abraham to sacrifice that son. The Bible said that Abraham rose early in the morning and he prepared for the journey. I can just imagine the turmoil of the night, however, there is no recording telling us that Abraham questioned God. Now when God called Abraham, He told him that He would make Abraham into a great nation. How would that become a possibility without the son of promise?

Abraham might have had these questions but he decided that he was going to obey God.  Sometimes obedience is easy when you love the assignment; when the assignment has a lot of perks attached to it. But are you willing to obey when obedience exacts a high price, like it did for Abraham? Then his son asked him a question in verse 8, “Father?”“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” The child knew that there must be an animal for the burnt offering. When Abraham was about to offer his son, God intervened and gave Abraham a lamb and a blessing. “And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” Verse16. God’s blessings come through obedience.

Thought for Today: Friend, God blesses those who are obedient to Him.

Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.