Day 3–God Will Provide
Scripture reading for April 22: Genesis 22:11-14 “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.”
God often tests His people for genuine faith and love for Him that produces obedience. In this amazing story from the life of Abraham, the father of faith, we have God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son of promise, Isaac. This was a difficult request but Abraham feared God and also trusted God’s promises to him that through Isaac and his offspring all nations would be blessed. Abraham obeyed God and set out for the place he was to make the sacrifice with Isaac carrying the wood and he the fire and knife. He prepared an altar and laid Isaac on it. As he raised the knife, God stopped him by calling his name. God told Abraham not to touch his son, for he had passed the test of trusting God. Abraham saw a ram caught in a thicket and offered the ram instead pf his son. He named the site, “Jehovah Jireh”, which means ‘The Lord will provide.” It was near the place where two thousand years later Jesus Christ was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
As responders, we are often called to help in difficult assignments where we don’t fully understand how we will make it through. Abraham’s life lesson for us is that obedience to God is always the best way forward. As we go, God will surely provide what we need when we have obeyed. I have experienced God’s amazing supply numerous times on my journey through life.
Prayer: Father, I am not sure that I could have obeyed Your request to sacrifice my son to you. Examine my heart today and lead me in paths of surrender and obedience to Your will. I am learning to trust the promise of the Name Abraham learned the hard way–“The Lord Will Provide!” Amen.
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