Sunday, September 4, 2022
Theme: “Obedience precedes divine blessings»
Text: Genesis 22:1-3 then 12-18
1. After these things God put Abraham to the test, and said unto him, Abraham! And he answered: Here am I! 2. God said: Take your son, your only one, the one you love, Isaac; go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will tell you about. 3. Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two servants and his son Isaac. He split wood for the burnt offering, and left to go to the place that God had told him. […] 12. The angel said, Do not stretch out your hand to the child, nor do anything to him; for I know now that you fear God, and that you have not refused me your son, your only son. 13. Abraham looked up, and saw behind him a ram held in a bush by the horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering in place of his son. 14. Abraham named this place Jehovah Jireh. That is why it is said today: In the mountain of the Lord it will be provided. 15. The angel of the LORD called Abraham a second time from heaven, 16. and said, I swear by myself, word of the LORD! because you have done this, and have not refused your only son, 17. I will bless you and multiply your seed, like the stars of the sky and like the sand that is on the seashore; and your seed will possess the gate of their enemies. 18. All the nations of the earth will be blessed in your seed, because you have obeyed my voice.
Let's remember:
The blessings experienced by Israel and the covenant peoples of the world are the result of Abram's obedience. By one person, the world entered into a blessed destiny. Abram trusted in the Lord; he knew that God is full of love and that a solution was planned to replace his son after the sacrifice. In essence, God cannot bless and then come back to snatch the blessing for no good reason. It is not after obedience that God would come back to steal what makes us happy and leave us empty. The path of obedience can be riddled with struggles without, fears within; but you have to hold on until the end. Obeying the voice of God requires hearing and clearly understanding his will so as not to misinterpret the instruction given by God. This is why discernment must not be disconnected in the face of each situation. The trap to avoid is reasoning and procrastination; not putting off until tomorrow what can be obeyed today. Whoever obeys to the end will find his ram waiting for him at the end. Excellent obedience Sunday. Amen Alain Louz.-
Comments