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Obey All the Way |
Abraham Obeys God, Part 2
Hello. I hope everyone had a good week-end and
faith building worship services. That is usually determined by
how we participated in them isn’t it. I also hope you have been
using our slogan in your life, “Obey all the way.” Our memory
verse for this week is Col. 3:20, “Children, obey your parents
in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”
We continue our study of Abraham’s obedience
to God in the record of Genesis 22. Let’s notice a couple of
lessons from this text.
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Abraham gave unquestioned obedience to God. No
more difficult command can be imagined than to take the life of
your child. Giving our own life would be easier. Abraham did not
raise that question. He did not argue with God as some argue
with the Bible. Faith in God must be absolute. He cannot be seen
making bad judgments or unnecessary judgments. Faith is belief
and trust. Faith in God, the only perfect, omniscient, being
must mean complete unquestioning trust. We must give
unquestioned obedience in every matter of the New Testament.
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In addition, from a human standpoint, the
command of God had no reason. Yet, he obeyed. He did not ask,
“Why?” He did not ask for explanation. I recall another great
man who did ask why. Job kept demanding an audience with God to
find out why he was suffering. But when that audience was
provided, Job repented of his demand and fell silent before God.
He and Abraham both realized that their can be no questioning of
the rightness of God to make any demand, to allow any
circumstance, to act in any way he pleases. Our God is perfect.
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Abraham acted immediately. The text says, “in
the morning.” When we intend to obey God, there is no reason for
hesitation. Hesitation implies the thought of refusal while we
think over whether we want to obey or not. The moment God spoke,
there was never any doubt in Abraham’s mind of whether to obey.
As Christians study the Bible (God speaking), there is too much
questioning and some plain rebellion going on in our minds: “My
enemies are too mean to love.” “I cannot forgive you.” “I just
can’t go teach, Lord.” “It will only drive them further away if
I try to talk to them about their sin.” “I want my children to
dress like there friends.” There a million others I have heard
and some I have told myself. Brothers and sisters, when God says
it, that settles it and we should obey it without question and
without hesitation.
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Abraham never doubted that God would keep his
promise. Isaac was the son of promise through whose seed all
nations would be blessed - - but not if he is dead. Abraham had
never seen someone raised from the dead, but he had decided that
God would do that (Heb. 11:17-19). He was wrong in his
reasoning, but not wrong in his faith. Sometimes we question why
God let’s or causes some things to happen. God promises that all
things will work together for good for those who are the called
and who love God (Rom. 8:28). Let’s believe Him.
Let’s obey all the way like Abraham did. Let’s
believe in God and believe God like Abraham.
Have a great day.
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Studies by Mike Glenn |
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