WORSHIP: where it all started (Pt.3)

(painting by Neal Parrow - check out his art here.)

The last detail that we want to look at and consider in this story of Abraham offering up Isaac in Genesis 22 is...
God's Response to our Worship
As we consider this point it is very important that you once again read through the story, especially focusing on vs. 11-18. So go ahead and do that right now...
Do you not see the heart of God in these verses?

I want to point out two things in these verses:
Vs.12 “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, your only son, from Me."
The first thing that I want you to know is that God always saw what was in Abrahamʼs heart. God already knew that Abraham would be willing to offer up his only son. He was simply revealing Abraham's heart to himself.
And can I say something about this? I believe that He is doing the same thing with you and I as we seek to live for Him. He knows our hearts and He is using these "tests" in our lives to show us what is really taking place in our hearts. May we be those who are like Abraham, willing to give the Lord our very best!
The second thing that I want you to notice is that it is the very heart of God to BLESS His children!!! Look at vs.17-18 "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
If you read this story in a wrong way – you can get a wrong picture of God. You can begin to think that God is crazy. To ask Abraham to offer up his only son on the altar, I mean, what kind of God would do something like that? But wait a minute, is that not exactly what He did when He offered His only Son upon the cross for you and I? You have to read this story in its totality!

What was the end result for Abraham?

• He didnʼt offer up Isaac, he offered the ram instead
• He drew closer to the LORD in his worship
• Worshiping Him as JEHOVAH JIREH (the Lord will Provide)
• His Faith was strengthened
  

Consider this quote from David Guzik from his commentary on Genesis...
“This was not so much a test to produce faith, as it was a test to reveal faith. God had been

building Abraham slowly, piece by piece, year by year, into a man of faith.”

This is exactly the same thing that God is doing in each of our lives. He is transforming us step by step. He is not in a rush. He is patient.

May you know and understand today that it is the very heart of God to bless you. What parent would not desire to bless his or her children? As you seek to live for Him and be obedient to the things that He is asking for you, know that He has ALWAYS got something BETTER for you. If He is asking you to give up something, then give it up. I can personally say and testify that every time that I lay something on the altar, God has always blessed me with something greater!

TRUST HIM! GIVE YOUR ALL TO HIM! WORSHIP HIM! HE IS SO GOOD!