Genesis 17:1 – 28:19

Overview:

Abraham & IsaacDay 2 begins with God appearing before Abram to make a covenant with him.  “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”  God was setting Abram apart from other people.  He was going to make a nation of “Gods People” through Abram.  God changed his name to Abraham.  Today’s reading encompasses many important events including:

God’s covenant with Abraham, Circumcision, God announcing that Sarah will give birth within a year, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his family fleeing Sodom, the birth of Isaac (Abraham’s only son) & Abraham’s obedience to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham’s servant seeking a wife for Isaac (Rebekah), the birth of Esau and Jacob, Jacob stealing both Esau’s birthright and blessing and Jacob fleeing to Paddan Aram to take a wife.

Scripture – Genesis 22:6-8

Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together.

 

Observation

God promised Abraham that he would “make him into a great nation” yet he had no children with his wife Sarah.  God kept his promise while Abraham was at a very old age.  He and Sarah had a son Isaac.  Years later God tested Abraham and asked him to give his only son as a sacrifice to the Lord.  Abraham was obedient to the point where the knife was to be plunged into his son before God stopped him.  Abraham was obedient.  God said, “now I know you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son”.  God went on to say that He would surely bless Abraham and make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Application
Abraham trusted God completely as he was asked the unthinkable.  His most precious gift from God was his son and he knew that whatever God had in store for him, that God would keep his promise.  Abraham did not withhold his most precious possession from the Lord.   God does not want us to withhold anything from Him.  We wants us to trust Him and walk with him daily.  Even days when everything seems to go wrong, God is there and wants us to allow God to be God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to remember that your love is greater than I can comprehend.  Remind me to trust you when I don’t understand why things happen the way they do.  Thank you for your unconditional love and for keeping your promises.