God Will Provide

Week 6:

Genesis 22:1-14

Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!"  And he said, "Here I am."  Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."  So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him... But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"  And he said, "Here I am, my son."  Then he said, "Look, the fire and wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"  And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."... Then they came to the place of which God had told him.  And Abraham built an alter there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.  But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"  So he said, "Here I am."  And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, you only son, from Me."  Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.  And Abraham called the name of the place, 'The Lord Will Provide'; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."  

I love this story so much because it shows the goodness of God to Abraham.  This story is about a test that God brought Abraham through.  In the passages before, God promised Abraham nearly 4 times that he would be a father of many nations and that he would be blessed and favored by both God and man.  He was promised a son.  Abraham received a son.  But the test for Abraham was not in waiting for a son... the test was when Abraham had a son.  Yes, it was a challenge to have faith that God would bring him a son, however the real test was when he was told to give up that very thing he was promised.  

How many times has God given you a promise and then asked you to lay it down?  Throughout the past year and a half, God has taught me so much about promise and hope in the promise and what a challenge that has been.  But contrary to popular belief, the test is not when you're at the bottom or when you're in lack... the test is when you've been promoted, when you've finally been given something you've been hoping and waiting in earnest for.  Many people in this culture believe that the test of faith is when we're so desperate for something that all we can do is trust in God to come through.  This happens frequently when people are in a financial crisis and can't pay their rent or buy groceries.  They think that what they're going through is the ultimate test to see if they can trust God.  But what I learned from Steven De Silva in my finance class was that it's the greater test when you have a lot, and God is asking you, "What are you going to do with what I've given you?"  

It's time to stop dwelling at the bottom, in lack, in constant desperation.  God has enough.  Jesus' blood paid the price for you to live in abundance.  He's calling you into a greater understanding of His unending and ever-increasing government where the test is no longer when we're in debt, but when we've been given a crazy amount of blessings and finance!  And let me give you some good news: When we choose to sacrifice those promises and we lay them down on the alter like Abraham did, God will provide!  Meditate on that, because as Isaac asked Abraham, without the understanding that he was to be the sacrifice, where the lamb for the offering was, Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering."  And as he believed in God's provision, he was not only spared his only son, but he was provided a lamb to sacrifice for the offering in place of his son and blessed by God.  

In this upcoming season where God is going to pour out the fulfillment of His promises, I will hold on to the truth that God will provide the sacrifice, even when I have laid down mine.  His goodness is beyond my understanding and my hopes and desires are not beyond his abilities. 

Isaiah 9:7 

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.