My Bible Reading Plan (2yr.) – Genesis 22* – Reading Day 8 of 397

“Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love.” Genesis 22:2.  “And He said, Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you.” 

How many of us could have done this? This is where my awe (of God) says I could do this, but in reality I think I would have stood there and shouted, “Are you kidding me, Lord?” At the very least, I’m pretty certain this would have been what I said in my head, but we all know that God hears that, too :).

This is an EPIC faith, and I want and need to cultivate my own EPIC faith. Believing anything and everything is possible with God. He wants to, and gives frequently and oh so generously, all the time! Just ask me about my own life…

Actually, I do believe that everything is possible because everything is of and from God. The rubber hits the road when I have to walk out that belief… Most things in our life require our effort to learn, train or better our skills. Same with faith. We will wrestle and engage in a continual spiritual tug of war (the other end is not Jesus, but being tethered to our unbeliefs and doubts) with our faith, but in the process we will gain superhuman strength this way.

“And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, nor do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.” Genesis 22:12.

I believe it is both a visceral, literal, but mostly reverential fear. We give fear a bad rap, and rightly so, but if I have to experience fear in any form, this would be my preference.

“Jehovah, the God of Heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my kindred, and who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, To your seed I will give this land: He shall send His Angel before you. And you shall take a wife to my son from there.” Genesis 24:7.

Such care, love, remembrance and provision! That’s what Abraham remembered after a lifetime of God blessing him—all because he had EPIC faith.

“And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, I pray You, send me good speed this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.” Genesis 24:12.

This sentence needs to be read several times, each sitting. Really, maybe a “sort of” believer, seemingly not Abraham’s EPIC faith, but willing to take time to PRAY and borrow some of Abraham’s belief. But how about the very last part of that sentence? I’m pretty sure I would have said, “and show kindness to me.” That was another reason I need to read this sentence twice—to grasp that thought, understanding.

“And let it be that the young woman to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, please, so that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also. Let her be the one that You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by it I shall know that You have shown kindness to my master.” Genesis 24:14.

Here’s a better understanding of where this person’s belief was at, definitely not Abraham’s faith level. But again, no hesitation to speak to God, which is what prayer is.

“And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who has not left my master destitute of His mercy and His truth. Jehovah led me, I being in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.” Genesis 24:27.

“And he said to me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his Angel with you, and prosper your way. And you shall take a wife for my son from my kindred, and from my father’s house.” Genesis 24:40.

Just listening to Abraham share his faith in this way must have been so impacting that he could draw from it when it came time to ask for God’s help and direction. And again, Abraham shows how he not only believes for how God works in his life, but he has no problem entrusting one of life’s momentous decisions—a wife, for his servant to carry out!

“And before I finished speaking in my heart…” Genesis 24:45.

This is how we know he hears what’s in our minds and hearts. {Pray without ceasing.}

“And I bowed my head and worshiped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s daughter to his son.” Genesis 24:48.

And now we know that he may have been a fencer—someone who rode the fence, trying to believe all that God stuff.

“And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” Genesis 24:67.

To the end, God is faithful and remembered Abraham and all he promised him!

* MKJV by e-Sword