We are only a few days into this session of B90 and I've already been amazed at things that have jumped out to me from scripture. God has absolutely not disappointed in that I knew that He would not let this time in His word be fruitless or in vain. It just completely makes me that much more excited for the next months! I was nervous and overwhelmed when we were planning and getting started, but such an incredible peace has filled my heart from the moment I've been back digging in His word.
Something that REALLY stood out to me in yesterday's reading was in the story of Abraham and Isaac. I admit I thought about quickly reading through that portion of scripture since the story was so familiar, but I am so glad I slowed down to let it soak in. It's amazing how ONE word can TRULY grab your attention and speak to your heart.
Verse 5 in Chapter 22 (I'm reading from the NLT) jumped off the pages.
Abraham had already been asked to go to Moriah and take Isaac with him. He had been asked to do the unthinkable.
He didn't hesitate. He didn't waver. He didn't hold back. He didn't kick and scream. He didn't turn his back on God and say he had demanded too much.
Instead he walked ahead in faith. A BOLD FAITH!
Having read the story many times and heard or taught it countless times in Sunday school, I knew the outcome. I knew that God had a plan and that a ram would appear to take the place of Isaac. An angel would stop him from making that ultimate sacrifice.
Apparently Abraham knew that as well. He may not have known HOW it would happen or what God was going to do, but he TRUSTED and BELIEVED.
This one word is what grabbed me: "Will".
Abraham told his servants to stay with the donkey and that he and Isaac were traveling ahead a little farther. He told them that they would worship there and "we WILL COME RIGHT BACK".
He had the faith and confidence to know that he would be returning with his son.
Isn't that faith incredible? As much as I want mine to be that strong, I admit that I wouldn't have acted in the same way in that situation.
How I wish I had the faith of Abraham. I'm thankful for how much it has grown and how much deeper it gets every day, but oh how I wish I had the unwavering, solid, undoubting faith. Definitely have something to be working towards.
7 comments:
Thanks for the post. I noticed that too and was amazed at his willingness to give Issac up so easily. What faith!
Off topic, Tracye, but do you have any suggestions about reading the genealogies? Just like you mentioned the temptation of breezing through the Abraham and Issac story, I tend to want to skip large chunks of text because they seemed to be just lists of offspring. LOL
Beth, all I can say is "just do it". Don't skip it. I feel the same way with the genelogy, the repetitiveness of "the law", and all the blood/gore/destruction. I get so excited to be in the New Testament when we finally ge there. You definitely aren't alone! However, we HAVE to be faithful to reading ALL parts of it even if we are tempted to skip. I struggle with reading through all of the names (most I don't have the first clue how to pronounce!). I know that it may not be the easiest or the most "revealing" portions to us, but God will reward for sticking with it. I wish I had some other advice, but I don't. :(
I have a little advice that may help. On the B90 website they have a button that says listen while you read. for the hard pronunciation parts you could just read along and let the voice give you the exact way to pronounce them. i have always struggled with this beacuse i didnt know how to say the names i felt i was really missing out on somehting (thats silly i know - just how i would always feel) so this helped me tone.
Blessings
Lori L
Thanks, Lori! I have an Olive Tree oral program on my tablet that I can run in the future! :)
I love those suggestions! Lori:I didn't know about the part of the B90 website. I typically use www.biblos.com when I'm studying (Wendy Pope suggested it when I attended a workshop at Hearts at Home conference). Beth: I am going to have to check out the Olive Tree thing. I heard about that from someone else today from a totally different conversation!
You absolutely don't want to skip over the geneology! There's a reason for that: in some of those names are tiny little nuggets, such as Jabez's prayer, and other small notations about very specific people. Notice in Gen 46:26 it says, "not counting his son's wives." Those are important little tidbits we may miss if you jump over it.
Another thing that jumped out at me last night (Thur reading) was 47:21, "Joseph reduced the people to slavery from one end of Egypt to the other" (MSG). I mean: WHOA!! How many times have I read THAT story and never picked up on that?!
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