Part 2 The best evidence of our fearing (reverencing and honoring) God is our being willing to serve and honor Him with that which is dearest to us, and to part with all to Him or for Him. Matthew Henry Out of the desperation of silence, a voice rang out, Abraham, Abraham! This cry from heaven was not too early or too late. Do not harm the boy. These were words Abraham had longed to hear for three days. As he climbed atop Mt. Moriah, he hoped that a voice would stop the ascent, but none was heard. With the knife held tightly in his hand and his arm raised heavenward, Abraham was ready to part with the child he loved more than his own life. He would have done the unthinkable and taken the life of his son. As several Biblical scholars point out, it was Abrahams belief that his Father in heaven would provide a way out even if it meant that Isaac would be resurrected from the dead. For us to understand more completely the relationship which had been forged between Abraham and his heavenly Father, we need to explore the words God chose to speak to this man of faith for they help us understand the depth of Abrahams commitment to Someone whose face was obscured from view because of the blight of sin. Author Ronald Youngblood helps us with his commentary on Genesis 22: 12 - And (God) said, do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son. As Author Youngblood suggests, Perhaps a comment is in order about Abrahams fear of God. To fear God in contexts like this is not so much to be afraid of Him or to dread Him as it is to respect and revere Him...In the mind of the ancient Israelite, fearing the Lord included loving Him and trusting Him. Interestingly, when we respect another person to the point that we fully trust them, we will, like Abraham, find that our faith in that individual becomes a silver thread as Pastor Charles Spurgeon calls it. As A. W. Tozer correctly states, Faith rests upon the character of God, not upon the demonstration of laboratory or logic. After a lifetime experience with God, near the end of his life on earth, Abrahams relationship with God was one of mutual trust and love. There was nothing Abraham would not do in answer to his heavenly Fathers request. By the same token, God knew His friend Abraham. Pastor Ben Patterson sums up their union this way: God has a special affection for those who let go of their Isaacs, their deepest loves, for the sake of a promise. Mount Moriah is very near another mount, perhaps no more than a few hundred yards that we know as Golgotha. It was there that God gave up His one and only Son for the sake of His promise, the very same promise He made to Abraham. What Abraham was willing to do, but didnt have to do, God actually did! Hear this, you who struggle to trust Gods promises, who have been forced to let go of the things you most love, who strain to believe (God) is perfect in love, wisdom, and power: He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things (Romans 8: 32). Abrahams faith was in a Father whose promises he learned could be counted on all his life through. Thankfully, our Father does not change. The promises He made so long ago, He will keep today. The question for us today is: What in the world means more to me than anything else and would I be willing to freely give that to God today? Thou, Lord, alone art all Thy children need, And there is none beside; From Thee the streams of blessedness proceed; In Thee the blest abide, Fountain of life, and all-abounding grace, Our Source, our Center, and our dwelling place. Madame Jeanne Marie Guyon 1648-1714
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 21:16:47 +0000