Having Faith

Heart Prep

Father God, help me to trust You even when my circumstances don't make sense. Although I have questions, please help me to rely on Your promises.

Genesis 22:13-14 "Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering
in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide,
as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.”

In the verses prior to today’s passage, God had promised Abraham that he would give him a son through his wife, Sarah, and that he would have a multitude of descendants. Even though both Abraham and Sarah were very old God gave them their son, Isaac. When Isaac got older God commanded Abraham to take him up a mountain and sacrifice him to God as a burnt offering. This did not make logical sense. God promised Abraham a son, and even though Abraham was skeptical because of his age, God provided. Now was God telling Abraham to give up that son? But Abraham was obedient to do what God told him. It never occurred to me until I was an adult that Abraham must have been confused. Yes, Abraham trusted God, and it showed because of his actions, but that does not mean that he knew all the answers and blindly did everything that he was told to do. I’m sure that as he walked up that mountain with his promised son, he wondered why in the world God told him to do this. God was testing Abraham’s faith, and because of his obedience and trust in the Lord, God provided a ram to sacrifice in the place of Isaac. God’s faithfulness is so clear from this passage. Even when things do not make sense, when nobody else understands, and when you have more questions than answers, God is still good. He will always provide for you, and He will reward you for your obedience. As you begin to make big decisions for your life, obey the Lord and know that trusting Him is completely worth it. Even when you have doubts, questions, and fears, know that God is in control and He is your provider.

Life Application

What is God saying to me?

Something I want to remember from this is...

How does this change my life and what are my next steps?