God's Character

I’ve spoken before that I believe asking God why only causes me to become embittered and fall deeper into self pity. I enjoy the times that God reveals His character to me through the scriptures or even just in other people. I began reading Chapter 18 in Genesis when God tells Abraham that his wife, Sarah, shall have a son.

God Speaks

Gen. 18:10, “And He said, ‘I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.’”

We Respond with our Words

What is our typical response when we hear the Lord’s voice? Do we follow in obedience, do we question God? Have we even positioned ourselves in such a way to hear from Him?

Sarah

In verse 12 we see Sarah’s response...”Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’” The Lord responds...”Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?” ‘Is anything to difficult for the Lord?’

Can you imagine God asking you this question? Do you believe there is anything I cannot do? Wow, in fear, Sarah responds, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

Abraham

22:1-2, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’” (Abraham positions himself in such a way that he is ready to hear from God).

God Gives

Following the story we see God go to Sarah...21:1-3 “And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born to him-whom Sarah bore to him- Isaac.”

I love God’s sense of humor here...Isaac means “one who laughs.” It’s as if God is reminding Sarah of her response to His voice.

God Asks of Us

22:2, “Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, (Mountainous area in Jerusalem), and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”

Do you see the direct correlation with John 3:16? “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

We Respond In our Actions

22:4-5, “Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’”

This scripture could be debated as to wether Abraham already knew that God would save Isaac from being sacrificed and that’s why he chose to be obedient. But wether God allows us to know His will for our lives or not, it is still the simple act of following through with what God has asked of us that tests our faith in Him.

22:7-8, “But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My Father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering,’ So the two of them went together.”

John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Revelation 12:10-1, “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to death.”

22:10-12, “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’”

God Provides in Accordance to our Needs

22:13, “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

God rewards those who are Obedient

22:18, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

Galations 3:4-9, “Have you suffered so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?-just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness,’ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

God preached the Gospel in the Old Testament of the things to come!!

Galations 3:29, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

I was talking to a friend about God’s will for my life last night and how I often concern myself with questions such as, “well what if I go this way and it’s not God’s will for me?” His simple reply was, “Emily, God's will isn't for us to be paralyzed by our constant concern of what His will is. His will is for us to step in faith and allow His will to be done. We can't solve God's will in our minds.” Another friend reminded me of the story in Matthew 9 of the man that was paralyzed and was lowered down into the house on his mat to be healed by Jesus. Jesus says to the man, "Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Jesus is telling this man, go and walk home to share your testimony with those who knew you were once not able to walk and now you do. "Walking" is a term often used in the bible to represent one's faith. It was a picture of this man being forgiven of his sins, and now walking in faith. The most beautiful picture of this, is that Jesus tells this man to now CARRY the thing that once carried him, his bed. Don't allow that which once kept you from walking in the faith paralyze you now. You were forgiven so that you might go and testify of the things God has raised you up from. In Genesis, we see Abraham prophesy the coming sacrifice of our Lord by walking in the obedience that God had called him to, in faith.

It was God’s will that Christ be sacrificed on the cross for our transgressions. It was God’s will that Abraham testify of his faith in God by being obedient to what God had asked him to do. What has God asked you to do? What is your response? Are you being obedient in your actions? He will provide for you. And reward you for your obedience. But let me share with you one more thing...

It’s not about knowing what God’s will is for you. It’s not about being provided for or being rewarded for what you do. It’s about Knowing Him. By walking in faith, and positioning yourself in such a way that you are able to hear His voice, you will know Him. Your eyes will be opened to His love for you. This is God’s character.

O, that you may know Him today.