Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:2 (NIV)
When has the Lord commanded you to do something that sounded impossible? Hopefully, it was not as demanding as what Abraham was told to do in faith.
There are many important takeaways from this story, which is the first chapter in this week’s reading plan (add link). What an ending!
Imagine how the day started for Abraham in Genesis 22.
God spoke to Abraham and said, “Take your son … and sacrifice him as a burnt offering …” My gosh! What father could do this? Abraham did not know the end of the story – that his son would be spared by a last-minute reprieve from God. The application to our lives is faithfully trusting when Jesus gives us direction in facing a demanding situation with a relationship, finances, or something else that requires us to act in a way that seems contrary to our own understanding. Philippians 4:7 says in part, “ … the peace of God, which transcends all understanding …” In other words, we cannot measure our reward for faithful obedience based on our own experience. With God, there is always a higher purpose.
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“Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.” Nehemiah 13:14 (NIV)
Nehemiah was a person, not a politician or a prophet. He collaborated with the great prophet Ezra to restore and rebuild Jerusalem and its people. He prayed ceaselessly for the people. He was a protector and defender who negotiated peace with the enemy threatening attack. He always gave God the credit. In response, his influence helped those who felt so defeated to be more confident and excited about the future.
As was the case with Abraham, Nehemiah was a person of great faith and trust in the Lord. His faithful life encourages all of us to demonstrate how one person, fully committed to God, can have a positive influence on many and bring about profound change. Nehemiah was not in a ministry of any kind. He was a soul devoted to his Lord. We can all relate to that.
Prayer:
We are now in the early days of the new year. Help us to have open minds and hearts to receive Your word, Lord, so that it becomes part of us and how we live our lives. We want to be constantly sensitive to the needs of others, particularly those who are sick and suffering in poor circumstances. Give wisdom to our pastors and our church friends to act in harmony with Your will. We want to spread the joy of knowing You to all those who have lost their way and do not have a personal relationship with You. Thank you, Jesus. Amen