“Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lordcalled to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”” (Genesis 22:10–12, ESV)
Now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me. What are you withholding from God? What do you refuse to give Him? You know what I mean. Please don’t flip the page and look for a more comforting thought. It may mean the difference between the future you’re about to live and the one God envisions for you.
God knows our hearts and He knows our possibilities. He sets up a series of tests in life, and if you have read Scripture carefully you know that God keeps testing us until we step into Heaven (See James 1.2-5). Each test is designed to validify the faith we think we possess as well as confirm to us that we are, in fact, capable of so much morethan we ever dreamed of.
As Abraham enjoyed this “impossible” child in his old age, God called him to relinquish the boy as a sacrifice of love. The thing he held on to most dearly God asked for more definitely. Yet Abraham knew God was able to do the impossible before he walked up the mountain alone with Isaac. Listen as “Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”” (Genesis 22:5, ESV)
Faith trusts God to do the right thing by us. When He makes the big “ask” we know God will reward our faith in greater ways than we can imagine. Abraham knew the promise of God and the God of the promise. “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them. So shall your offspring be.”(Genesis 15:5, ESV)
There could be no abundance of offspring if Abraham’s “only son” was dead. So, by faith, he walked up the mountain and trusted God for the results.
Where do you need to walk today in faith? Where do you need to trust God by giving Him what you’ve been holding too tightly?
Faith Filled Fridays hope to boost your trust in God and accelerate your daring and courage in everyday life. Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, writes each encouragement out of a heart that has known both great joy and great loss – his wife of 38 years, 5 months and 2 days was promoted to Heaven on November 11, 2017. Through every experience, God has proven Himself more than faithful and trustworthy. He welcomes your comments below.
