Coffee With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved

"God Tests Abraham"

 
"Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven, 'This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed Me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by My own self that I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed - all because you have obeyed Me." Genesis 22:15-18

*God gives us many tests, commonly called trials, to strengthen our faith and character. These tests also give us the opportunity to obey God and develop a closer relationship to Him and to show our love for Him. Difficult circumstances act as a refining fire in our lives. As Abraham was to learn, sometimes obeying God is a struggle because it might mean giving up something we truly want. We should not expect to receive God’s greatest blessings, unless we are willing to endure God’s greatest tests.

I have received so many e-mails, and prayer request from people in the last two months who feel like they are going through so much in their lives. And according to their testimonies, they are.

Joe and myself have gone through so much in the last few years, but we are starting to see the light. How did we manage and continue to manage? We keep our eyes on the one who was in charge, (God).

You must also keep your eyes focus, your heart continually Praising God, you mind set on the things of God, and your spirit must be sitting before the Presence of God.

Lets look at the story of Abraham and Isaac together. Lets learn from the man of Faith. Then lets ask God to help us to be strong and let our faith grow. *

God knew how much Abraham loved his son Isaac. He was the child God had promised. As Isaac grew, Abraham loved his son even more. Abraham knew that some day, when Isaac became a man, he would marry and have children of his own. These children would grow up and have children of their own. Therefore, through Isaac, Abraham would become the father to many nations just as God had promised

Abraham taught Isaac to love God and to serve Him with all his heart. This pleased the Lord. From the days of Adam, all of God's prophets offered animal sacrifices as they were commanded by God. Perhaps, Abraham took Isaac when he offered his sacrifices to God to teach him how it should be done. Also, Abraham probably explained to Isaac that God would accept the sacrifice as a gift, and He would hear their prayers if their offerings were made from the heart.

Before God was to make Abraham a great nation, He wanted to test Abraham's love for Him.  One day God called out to Abraham, calling him by name, "Abraham!"

***See, God wants to make us a great disciple for Him. He wants to promote us, to a higher calling. If you are in the Ministry, God want to enlarge your Ministry.***

Abraham answered quickly, "Here I am Lord."
God then gave to Abraham a commandment that was very difficult to fulfill. God commanded Abraham saying, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love so much. Go into the land of Moriah. Give him back to Me as a burnt offering. I will show you the place to build an altar."

***Yes, I know just as you have, God has allowed and even asked us to do things for Him, that we did not understand.***

How surprised was Abraham! He did not understand why God had asked him to do this. God had promised to make his descendants into a great nation through Isaac. Abraham wondered how God could keep His promise if Isaac were to be sacrificed. He did not want to sacrifice his only son. However, because Abraham loved God, he would obey.

***How much do you love God? Is He first in your life?***
Early the next morning, Abraham cut some wood, and prepared everything necessary for the sacrifice. He then loaded up a donkey, and took with him Isaac and two servants. Together, they set off on a three-day journey to the place God had shown to Abraham. When the night came, they slept under some trees.

They traveled for two days. Finally, on the third day, Abraham looked in the distance and saw a great mountain. He recognized this as the place where God wanted the altar built. When they arrived at the base of the mountain, Abraham told his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while Isaac and I go to worship. We will come right back." Isaac carried the wood that had been brought for the offering.  Abraham carried the vessel of fire and the knife. Together, they began to climb the tall mountain.

***Maybe even you have been waiting years, and have to travel life's not to easy road, to get to where you need to be so you can do God's Work. You have finally reach the point of know return, and you have sacrificed it all***

As they were climbing, Isaac wondered why his father had not brought a lamb for an offering. Isaac asked, "Father, we have the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the offering?"

***I know you have even asked God, Why. You have even said, "God I have given everything for you." Just as Isaac said, "Father, we have the fire and wood, but where is the sacrifice?" Maybe you have given the wood and fire in your life, but have you made that complete sacrifice? Have you given God your everything?***
Abraham answered, "God will provide the lamb for the offering, my son."

Once they had reached the place that God had chosen for the sacrifice, Abraham and Isaac built an altar. Carefully, they placed the wood on it. When all was ready for the sacrifice, Abraham explained to Isaac that he was to be the sacrifice. Feeling sad, yet full of faith in God, Abraham tied Isaac's hands and feet, and placed him upon the altar. Abraham held the knife in his hand. He raised the knife in the air, and just as he was ready to lower the knife to offer his son as a sacrifice to God, the voice of an angel called out from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

***Yes, you have felt like Abraham wondering why? But you have also felt like Isaac, you have felt that your hands and your whole being was tied. Maybe you felt that people have kept you from doing God's Work. Maybe you have felt you had not had the opportunity, that you have seen other have. Well, my dear friend you have. No one can stop you from preaching God's Word. You just have to find a street corner and start doing it. ***

"Here I am," he replied.

***When you finally say, "Here I am, Lord," you better get ready, because God is going to do mighty things in your life. God is going to say, "My child that's all I wanted you to do, is just to be willing to give me everything. ***

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," the angel said. "Now I know you love God more than your own son. Untie his hands and feet and let him go." How relieved and how happy was Abraham!

***When you do finally give you all to God, He will turn things around for you. And if your are a Minister, He will say to everyone and everything, including satan, "Do not lay a hand on My child or the work I have given him/her to do. Nothing will be able to stop you, hurt you, are lay a hand on what God gives you.***

At that moment, Abraham heard a sound. He looked toward the sound and saw a ram, caught by his horns, in the bushes. The Lord had provided a sacrifice just as Abraham had told Isaac He would. Abraham took the ram and offered it on the altar in place of his son Isaac.

Again, the angel called from heaven to Abraham. The angel, speaking for the Lord said, "Because you were willing to give Me your dearly beloved son, I will surely bless you, and I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as many as the sands on the seashore. Through you, I will bless all the nations of the earth because you have obeyed My voice."

***See God just wants to know that He has our all. That every inch of us belongs to Him. And when this happens watch out, for you will not believe the Ministry that you will have.***

How happy were both father and son as they went down the mountain! Abraham knew he had pleased God. Isaac knew that his life was precious to the Lord. Abraham called this place, "the Lord provides." Together, they returned to the servants who were waiting with the donkey. Then, they all returned to their home at Beersheba.

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