Monday, September 14, 2009
Session 7:Call of Abraham
God called Abram. When God calls on you, how do you respond? To leave it all behind and follow after whatever God has for your life is a giant leap of faith. Check out the age of Abram. Have you ever heard anybody say that they have "served there time" so to speak? We learn a valuable lesson here that you are not to old to be called by God. Would you be willing to follow God if it was for you to go to a third world country and live with almost no resources? Remember that God tests us to bring out the best in us! He was testing the faith of Abram to see what He could entrust him with. This was definitely a growing process for him. God made a promise to Abram that He would bless him with a child. Something that seemed impossible in the eyes of man was possible with God. Stop! Did you get that? We say these things so much that I wonder if we actually believe it? Impossible things are made possible with GOD. WOW! Both Abraham and Sarah had a good laugh when the promise was made for a child to be born. But, their faith was made stronger when it actually came to pass. Then we come to one of my favorite chapters in all of the Bible. Genesis 22 is the chapter where Abraham is told to offer his only son as a sacrifice. This is a perfect picture of how our faith should grow stronger as we mature in Christ. Without hesitation Abraham made his way to the place that God showed him. He was willing to do all that the Lord commanded him to do. Amazing FAITH!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Billy this is my favorite story in the Old Testament. Each time I study this scripture new thing jump off the page, starting with Genesis 22: 2 God tells Abraham to take his son to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. By the way, this is the same place Jesus was crucified. Verse 3, “So Abraham rose early in the morning” early in the morning means new beginning. Verse 4, “Then on the third day Abraham” likewise Jesus rose on the third day. Verse 5, “And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” I love Abraham’s faith; he doesn’t even question Gods command. Abraham believed he and his son would come back down the mountain. Verse 8 And Abraham said,” My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering,’ God did provide a sacrifice that day, a ram but God sacrificed the Lamb for all of our sins on Calvary. Verse 19 “Then they returned to the servants and traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live. I have often wondered what that trip back home was like. I look forward this week to digging deeper. May God be with you all and please keep Jerry in your prayers as he travels this week. Thanks Heather
I think it would be so hard for us in today's time to just drop everything and follow God. I have often wondered if we would if asked. We are so comfortable in our lifestyle that just to leave all that we have worked so hard for
seem's unthinkable. To sacrifice our child that we have raised and be the one to sacrifice him. It would take a lot of trust to do these thing's. Am I ready to do that? I have asked our children this before and they couldn't imagine doing it either so this will be a great lesson for them.
Here is what concerns me Karen, the Bible is real clear that He does ask us to drop everything and follow Him. Matt10:37 I think. Of course we are expected to keep tent building in order to eat, but who does it say will be in heaven? Disciples of Christ? yes! So which disciple do I most closely resemble? Ha!
On another point about this lesson. I heard a T.D. Jakes sermon years ago(don't listen anymore, I found out he is a modalist) and this was the gist of what he said "Abraham told the servants 'abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship.' Its your relationship with the Father that determines if you go up on the mountain to worship or stay at the bottom with the ass." He was obviously preaching from the KJV, but the point was strong....and funny.
Paul
Karen I understand what you are saying about sacrificing a child. I get it. The good news is God doesn’t believe in human sacrifices. Abraham was ready to scarifies his only son, those I truly believe that Abraham knew his son would come back down the mountain alive. Maybe he thought that if he had to kill his son God would just bring him back to life, just my opinion. More importantly Abraham followed Gods command and was faithful without questioning. God was testing Abraham, to see if Abraham was ready to give it all. So many times before Abraham had failed, but by this point in his life he has finally started maturing as a child of God.
Paul, maybe that was there (there being the servants) sacrifice to stay at the bottom of the mountain in order that true worship could take place on the mountain. I’m just saying.
Heather
Heather, what you are saying is....Good! I did not see it from that angle, but I believe you are on to something. I truly believe when we get to heaven it will not be the Rick Warrens, Max Lucado's, Jerry Falwells that will receive the great crowns. I believe it will be the Pastor in the mountains of Peru who has labored for years only seeing a handful come to Christ. Yet he is a faithful servant. Preaching the Gospel, loving his brothers.
Does anybody know how far the trip was up the mountain, or how long they were gone? Just wondering.
2 days travel, about 45 miles from Beersheba to Jerusalem. The third day was spent offering the sacrifice. Remember the mount itself is thought to be where David/Solomon built the Temple Mount on top of. So, this is Jerusalem most scholars say. That being the case, for real mountain people, like Abraham was use to, Mount Moriah may have been more like Mt. Pleasant for us.
Hey guys. Sorry I haven’t blogged in the last several weeks. I could blame it on surgery but the truth is I have been lazy. But I must say thanks to Samantha that my class has been in good hands. She is wonderful.
As I was reading the lesson this week, two things stuck in my head Abraham‘s amazing faith and God’s amazing love. Because of Abraham’s willingness to obey, God provided everything that Abraham could ask for. God provided the land. Gen 12: 5-6 “When they came to the land of Canaan Abraham passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. At the time the Canaanites were in the land. But the LORD appeared to Abraham and said, I will give this land to your offspring.” God also provided the Lad. Gen. 21:5 “When Abraham was 100 years old when his son Isaac was born to him. God provided to the Lamb (ram). Gen. 22:13 “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of hi s son. And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said.” God also provided the love. Because it was his amazing love for his us that made him give up his only son as the lamb to sacrifice for us. We can never comprehend how great a love that is. I pray that we all can have Abraham’s faith.
Crystal
Post a Comment