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SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 22:1-19

Abraham’s faith in the Lord is tested and he is blessed for putting his trust in the Lord.

REFLECTION

‘Faith and trust’ is the theme for today’s reflection. Faith is defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Hebrews 11:1 explained faith to be  “… the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Trust is closely related to faith and it is the firm belief or assurance in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something. Our relationship with God is incomplete without faith and trust in Him. Abraham having received what he most desired, a son, God then required Abraham to prove his faithfulness to Him. It is a fact that most people follow God because of what they need and once they have it, God is no longer the center of their lives. Many were those who prayed and fasted for marriage and once they got married the zeal towards worship and service to God dwindled considerably. Again many were jobless and would attend every worship and prayer service hoping for a breakthrough, once they become employed by the grace of God they no longer have time to serve God as they used to do. Abraham, like many of us, also had his need fulfilled by God, the test now centered on his faithfulness to God. 

We shall recall that in the book of Job a similar test was placed upon Job when Satan questioned his integrity and faithfulness to God. “And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason?  Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:8-12) In the same manner, Abraham’s faith would be tested to ascertain if he only loved God because of the blessing God had bestowed upon him including his priceless son, Isaac, or he had faith and trust in God because God is God regardless of the situation he finds himself in life? This was Abraham’s test,  “…. “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:1-2). My dear friend, for Abraham, his test was to sacrifice his beloved son, your test may be to sacrifice your marriage, your job, investment, wealth or family to prove your faith and trust in God. 

When the time comes what will be your response? Will you pass the test or fail the test like that rich young man in Matthew 19: 21-22 when Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” God tests our faith and trust in Him based on the things we cherish most in our lives, that is why Jesus said that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). 

Abraham teaches us the act and language of faith if we wish to pass the test of faith and trust in God. We need to pay attention to the discourse between Isaac and Abraham when they were on the journey to the land of Moria to observe the sacrifice. “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:7-8). The act and language of faith and trust in God is firmly believing and taking the position that God is in control of every situation whether good or bad even if we are limited in our understanding and have no clue of what the future holds. Abraham practicalised the explanation of faith in Hebrews 11:1 which says  “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” He had an assurance that God will provide for Himself the lamb and he firmly held that conviction although he had not yet seen the lamb. Do believers of our generation have this level of faith and trust in God? Truly when the time came for the sacrifice God proved faithful to His faithful servant, Abraham. “Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now, I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”  And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22:10-14)

Faith and trust in God are seen in our obedience to God and the result of obeying God is the bestowing of His grace and blessings upon our lives. And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself, I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies,  and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” (Genesis 22:15-18). My dear friend in the Lord, no matter the situation in which you find yourself, Paul reminds us that “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7).  May you be encouraged  to start and continue your relationship with God with faith and trust.  Shalom 

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, NO MATTER OUR SITUATION IN LIFE WE HUMBLY PRAY THAT YOU STRENGTHEN US TO CONTINUALLY PUT OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN YOU, FOR “IN YOU  WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING” AMEN (Acts 17:28)

Jean-Paul Agidi(Rev)