We continued our study of the book of Genesis this morning. We read from Genesis 22:1-18. In the story we find Abraham and Sarah 13 years after their first and only son, Isaac, was born. They had waited nearly 60 years for this promise from God to be fulfilled. Then one day God tells Abraham to take this son, who it was promised he would produce a great nation from him, and go and sacrifice him on a mountain. Abraham and his son go to the hill and he ties Isaac up and is about to sacrifice him. God stops him and provides a ram to take Isaac's place and makes a promise to follow through on his promise.
We looked at this from 4 different perspectives: Abraham's, Isaac's, God's, and our own.
Abraham's Perspective -- Abraham knew God promised to use Isaac as a starting point for his "great nation". He knew that God's promises came true. He loved Isaac and didn't want to have anything bad happen to him. He found himself in a excruciatingly tought rock and a hard place. Would he obey God or put his son's life above that. He decided that he trusted God more than he loved his son, in fact the bible tells us that he thought God would raise him from the dead.
Isaac's Perspective -- Isaac was confused, he knew his dad loved him but had no idea what was going on. He probably noticed his dad was acting oddly and was most likely terrified, thinking his dad had gone insane. Then God provided the ram and he was relieved and grateful for God saving him.
God's Perspective -- God knew everything that was going to happen. He knew Abraham had put Isaac in a high place, almost equal with God and his promise. It used this to show Abraham that God is the most important, not his son. He also used this as a picture of what he would do later with His Son Jesus. He would take our place, sacrificing himself so that we could have real life.
Your Perspective -- People put a lot of things in place of God: money, pleasure, sports, academics, friends, family, work, future plans/goals, dreams, significant others, kids, substances, power, passions, talents, music, entertainment, etc... This is by no means a comprehensive list. Some of these things are good things, some are bad, but even if it is a great thing if it goes above God it is wrong!
We played a game in which we tied a kid up with a rope (Ben Potterton) that represented one of these things and then he had to get up and grab a bible off the ground. We increased the ropes to three and each time he got loose, but each time it took longer. When we put one thing in the place of God it takes us longer to do what we are supposed to do, and the more things we put in front of God the harder it is to do the things we are supposed to do.
What have you put in the pace of God? Are you willing to let it go? Does it scare you to? In the story Abraham was willing to give up the one thing he loved the most for God, and after God provided the Ram he named the hill the Place that God Will Provide. When you give up things that are standing in the way of you and God...God will provide. Sometimes he will hand back that thing to you now that you recognize it isn't the most important thing, sometimes he will take it away and give you something better. Regardless He will provide!
I give this morning: B+
Favorite Moment: Ben's awesome breakouts
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