Genesis 22:18 “and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Obedience to God brings incredible blessings, but we must be very careful we are hearing God, not some lying spirit or even our own imagination. One of the most tragic stories in the Bible is that of Jephtha in Judges 11, who sacrificed his own daughter to fulfill a rash vow he had made. That is the negative mirror of this very famous story of Abraham and Isaac. We applaud the one and mourn the other, but on some levels the difference is paper thin. Abraham didn’t dream up the idea of sacrificing Isaac, but his commitment and his faith were unyielding. He knew God’s character, as much as a human being can know it, and he trusted that God would do the right thing. This is the lesson for us. We speak almost casually of faith, but as James rightly points out throughout his letter, faith is demonstrated in action. Faith that pleases God is fundamentally humble, even though it sometimes appears proud to an outside observer. Saving faith acknowledges that we can’t save ourselves, so the assurance that arises from it isn’t limited by our own weakness. Abraham told Isaac that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8) That was not only a statement of faith, it was a prophecy of the Father sacrificing His own Son for the salvation of mankind, but Abraham had no idea of that at the time he said it. God can and does use very imperfect human vessels to accomplish His marvelous plans, and we need to trust Him fully to receive all the benefits.

As I have commented before, I feel like God has given me the gift of faith, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, but I must never take it for granted. The most dangerous thing is my own imagination. I must never cook things up in my mind the way Jephtha did! I have never sacrificed anything that God hasn’t restored to me in even better form, just as Jesus told Peter. (Matthew 19:27-30) I am never to hold back when God says to do something, but I must be careful to listen to Him accurately. My own thoughts and impulses aren’t reliable! That’s all the more reason to be as familiar with the Bible as possible, because He will not contradict Himself. I am very grateful He has never put me to the sort of test He gave Abraham, and at the same time I am assured that will be as faithful to me as He was to Abraham. After all, that is His character, and as He has said, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You bring me through, and for the assurance that Your plans are good. Thank You for using me, in all my imperfections. May I trust You enough to be fully obedient in every detail, on every level, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!