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Abraham, Part 23 - God's Reward for Obedience

Genesis 22v15-19

18th February 2011

As we read last week, Abraham obeyed God, even to the point of sacrificing his precious son, Isaac, but, at the last minute, God allowed him to sacrifice a ram in Isaac's place. We read on:

Genesis 22v15-18
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

God will sometimes call us to give up something - or someone - we love dearly, for His sake. God may do this because our relationship with that thing or person is unhealthy or even sinful. However, as in this case, He may do so just to test our obedience.

Obedience in theory is not the same as obedience in practice. We all (I hope) want to obey God in theory. But it's difficult to obey when it actually costs us something. Even Jesus, the sinless Son of God, who never disobeyed His Father, is said to have learned obedience. That is, he learned what obedience is like, by experience, which is the only way:

Hebrews 5v9
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Although we will never suffer as much as Jesus did, we do need to follow Him in learning obedience, even when it involves suffering, if we are to become like Him.

For every Christian, there's a conflict between what God wants and what we want, between God's revealed will and our understanding, between our love for Him and our love for others. And, from time to time, God makes us face this conflict with the question, "will you put me first?". As Jesus said:

Matthew 22:37-38
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

Abraham passed the test.

Perhaps, like me, you've passed the test sometimes and failed sometimes. But, if we truly know God, then we must surely understand that obedience to God is right and that it must be more blessed than disobedience. And, because Abraham obeyed, God swore by Himself, "I will surely bless you".

Here's what God promised to the obedient Abraham. "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." God loves to pour out blessing on those who obey Him.

Which makes me ask, are we fully obedient to what God is telling us to do?

Finally we read:

Genesis 22v19
Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

There is a time to come off the mountain. A time to go home, and get on with serving our Lord. Not every day is a dynamic encounter with God. Not every day is a life-changing choice. Some are. But most days are full of choosing to do the right thing, and trusting God, and getting on with it.