Scripture Reading For Today: Genesis 22:1-18
I recall a story that I once heard some years ago.
As the story went, a Tightrope Walker with a travelling circus that had come to perform in a town, held a young lad who was watching the act spellbound in amazement, after seeing the death-defying stunts that the trapeze artiste had performed. The entertainer noticing the boy’s look of wonderment beckoned to him to comeand join him in front of the crowd and said to him:
I’d like to do a special act just for you – tell me what you want me to do for my next act, and I’d be happy to perform it for your enjoyment.
Whilst the little boy thought about it, the entertainer asked him some questions:
He pointed to two tall buildings just some distance away from them:
“Do you believe that I can walk across a tightrope suspended between those two buildings?”
Without any hesitation, the little boy answered “Oh Yes!”
The man said to him: “Let’s make this more exciting: “What if I walked across carrying a chair in my hands. Do you think I can do that?”
Again, the little boy replied without any hesitation.
“Yes; I know you can”.
Then the tightrope walker with a smile on his face said to him: “My little friend, I have an idea that will make this next show one that you will remember – Do you believe I can walk across the two buildings, carrying the chair in my hands with you sitting in the chair?”
The little boy did a quick turn on his heels as he turned away from the man and muttered a sharp response: “I think I can hear my mum calling me…!”
This little boy’s reaction to the man is somewhat typical of our response to God’s challenge to us to work with Him and take a step of faith. It is sometimes easier to believe that God can make it happen and prove His word in some other person’s life or situation than He can, when it comes to our own lives and situations.
Abraham had waited so many years (25 years), before God’s promise of a child being born to him came to pass. Then after Isaac finally came, God tested Abraham by demanding that Abraham give him up as a sacrificial offering to Him.
Pause for a moment and consider this question:
“What would you do if you were in Abraham’s place. Would you have trusted God enough to give up Isaac?”
See what Abraham did:
“3Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.”
In contrast to Abraham’s earlier response to God’s command to him; this time, the bible records that Abraham without any hesitation, immediately responded
to God’s request. He made the decision to obey God and offered up Isaac to God as He had demanded.
Every act of obedience is preceded by, or accompanied by a sacrifice. There can be no obedience without sacrifice.
Every time you choose to obey God; it is always at the expense of your own will. Like in Abraham’s case, the proof of his obedience was in him offering up Isaac as a sacrifice in his heart, even before he got to the mountain.
Obedience is a decision to surrender or sacrifice your will and your desire, in order to see God’s will established in a situation.
Your response to God’s instructions to you or His demands on your life, go a long way to reveal the true state of your heart.
The fulfilment of the promises of God to us in Christ Jesus are contingent upon our obedience to His word.
Hear what God said to Abraham (Genesis 22:18):
18Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.’“
What Changed in Abraham? What Made Him Obey God?
20He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. 21He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. (Romans 4:20-21)
Abraham had learnt to trust God.
He had faith in God. He was unshakable in his belief that God would be faithful to keep His promises to him. He was fully convinced that God would deliver on His promises.
Obedience is the demonstration of our trust in God, and our faith in His faithfulness.
That is why God takes our disobedience personal – it tells Him that we do not trust Him, nor believe in the integrity of who He says He is!
You can’t obey God if you don’t trust Him.
May God give you the grace to fully trust and obey Him. May He open a book of remembrance concerning you. May He cause you to walk in this season, in the full release of His blessings and favour in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Shalom,
Pastor Wale Ola
LIFE APPLICATION
1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?
2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?
3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?
4. What is my commitment to the word for today?
5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?
PRAYER FOCUS
Ask God to give you the grace to fully trust and obey Him.
Pray to Him to open a book of remembrance concerning you.
Pray that He will cause you to walk in this season, in the full release of His blessings and favour in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 2:13
Song For Today: Trust and Obey – Don Moen
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