The Most Powerful Force for Change

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Sunday - 9:15 AM Sunday School, 10:30 AM Worship Service

by: Denise Robinson

04/23/2021

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Our devotional series based on the book Climbing with Abraham by David Ramos continues. Last week, we focused on God as our faithful provider. We read the first verses about God's call to Abraham to sacrifice his son. Today we continue with the story. Of course, we know two things Abraham did not. First, God was going to provide another way from the start. And second, there would later come a time when God would sacrifice his own Son for us.    
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Week 23: Read Genesis 22:9-19 (The Most Powerful Force for Change)


"The climb is over. Abraham and Isaac are high up on the mountain and begin to prepare the altar. During this preparation, Isaac does not run; he does not complain or question. Just as Abraham completely trusts God, so Isaac trusts his father, and he lets Abraham bind him with rope.

With urgency, God interrupts and tells Abraham to drop everything. These actions have proven that Abraham holds nothing higher than God, not even his only son. To affirm his pleasure and role as provider, God brings a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's stead. The powerful section closes with God swearing to fulfill God's promises to an even greater extent: Abraham's descendants will be incredibly numerous and victorious thanks to this day, when the will of God intersected with the obedience of man.

The whole scene is emotionally overwhelming. Abraham is, at first, feeling intense fear and anxiety that his son may die, then a second wave of relief and joy washes over him as God provides an alternative sacrifice. But before he can digest anything that has just occurred he is deeply humbled and likely in awe that God would swear by God's own Self a promise to him. Finally, another wave of relief and joy comes as he descends the mountain, thankful that he has just triumphed over the most difficult task of his life.

This is most often what it looks and feels like to obey God. It may begin in a place of hope or confidence but quickly falls into fear and anxiety as trouble arises. For whatever reason, we still like to believe that the path God has for us is the one with the least amount of potholes. Not true. Whenever God asks us to walk a certain way, it is usually for two reasons. First, because the destination will be much better, and second, because the journey will grow us; both things which require difficulty.

As we continue in obedience there will be moments of relief and humility. There will be times when God reaffirms that He is working for us and not against us. We will have seasons of rest, where God answers our prayers, provides in some miraculous way, or just gives us a deep peace to know that we are headed in the right direction. Obedience to God is not straightforward. It doesn't always feel good or make the most sense. However, when the perfect will of God meets the complete obedience of man, it is the most powerful force for change on earth."
___________________________
Takeaway from today's lesson:  My obedience, while difficult, is an incredibly powerful tool for God.

Prayer: God, give me the endurance to be obedient to your will, especially when it doesn't make sense to me. Amen.
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Our devotional series based on the book Climbing with Abraham by David Ramos continues. Last week, we focused on God as our faithful provider. We read the first verses about God's call to Abraham to sacrifice his son. Today we continue with the story. Of course, we know two things Abraham did not. First, God was going to provide another way from the start. And second, there would later come a time when God would sacrifice his own Son for us.    
__________________________
Week 23: Read Genesis 22:9-19 (The Most Powerful Force for Change)


"The climb is over. Abraham and Isaac are high up on the mountain and begin to prepare the altar. During this preparation, Isaac does not run; he does not complain or question. Just as Abraham completely trusts God, so Isaac trusts his father, and he lets Abraham bind him with rope.

With urgency, God interrupts and tells Abraham to drop everything. These actions have proven that Abraham holds nothing higher than God, not even his only son. To affirm his pleasure and role as provider, God brings a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's stead. The powerful section closes with God swearing to fulfill God's promises to an even greater extent: Abraham's descendants will be incredibly numerous and victorious thanks to this day, when the will of God intersected with the obedience of man.

The whole scene is emotionally overwhelming. Abraham is, at first, feeling intense fear and anxiety that his son may die, then a second wave of relief and joy washes over him as God provides an alternative sacrifice. But before he can digest anything that has just occurred he is deeply humbled and likely in awe that God would swear by God's own Self a promise to him. Finally, another wave of relief and joy comes as he descends the mountain, thankful that he has just triumphed over the most difficult task of his life.

This is most often what it looks and feels like to obey God. It may begin in a place of hope or confidence but quickly falls into fear and anxiety as trouble arises. For whatever reason, we still like to believe that the path God has for us is the one with the least amount of potholes. Not true. Whenever God asks us to walk a certain way, it is usually for two reasons. First, because the destination will be much better, and second, because the journey will grow us; both things which require difficulty.

As we continue in obedience there will be moments of relief and humility. There will be times when God reaffirms that He is working for us and not against us. We will have seasons of rest, where God answers our prayers, provides in some miraculous way, or just gives us a deep peace to know that we are headed in the right direction. Obedience to God is not straightforward. It doesn't always feel good or make the most sense. However, when the perfect will of God meets the complete obedience of man, it is the most powerful force for change on earth."
___________________________
Takeaway from today's lesson:  My obedience, while difficult, is an incredibly powerful tool for God.

Prayer: God, give me the endurance to be obedient to your will, especially when it doesn't make sense to me. Amen.
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