How patient are you?

It has occurred more than once.

I’ll be praying and…

feeling sorry for myself, to be bluntly honest.

I’m telling God about a circumstance and how long I’ve waited for His answer and Abraham comes to mind.

Genesis 12:7 KJV — And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 13:14-16KJV — And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

It’s unclear how much time passed between these two promises, but Abram had become very wealthy in that time despite a famine and his trip to Egypt and back.

Genesis 16:3 NKJV — Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 16:16 NKJV — Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Abraham waited till he was in his eighties and then he took the suggestion of his wife on how to “help God” and had a son the his wife’s servant, but Ishmael was not the son of God’s promise.

Genesis 18:10 KJV — And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

God’s promised son was outside any human plan or ability.

Genesis 21:5 NKJV — Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Abraham didn’t know the Lord’s plan and He didn’t realize Isaac would be a foreshadowing of Jesus.

And although Abraham did try to “help” God’s promise, the inspiring part of the story is Abraham’s faith.

Genesis 15:6 NKJV — And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Abraham waited a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled and God used him mightily.

And then God’s whisper to my heart:

How patient are you?

God’s way of reminding me to wait upon Him with joy, peace, and patience.

He was faithful in His promises to Abraham, I know He will be faithful with me.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word and for Your servant Abraham. Lord, thank You for taking me back to this story time and again when I’m feeling sorry for myself or thinking I’ve waited long enough. Lord, my patience is supplied by Your Holy Spirit and I thank You for that. Lord, please continue to help me to not quench Your Holy Spirit, but to allow Your fruit to be plentiful in my life. Please help me to be humble, teachable, and patient. Thank You. I know You are worthy of all my trust and Your ways are perfect. Thank You for Your love and salvation. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Astonishing faith

And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:8 NKJV

This passage of scripture where God tests Abraham is riveting.

The chapter begins by telling us God was testing Abraham.

Then God tells Abraham that he is to take Isaac to a mountain range and, on a mount He would show him, offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:3 NKJV

The Bible doesn’t record a single thing on Abraham’s side other than his action.

He rose early to obey the Lord.

Scriptures tell us Abraham loved Isaac, so this wasn’t about a lack of affection between father and son.

It was because of Abraham’s great love for his son that he was being tested.

When they reach the place Abraham told his servants:

And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
Genesis 22:5 NKJV

Abraham is going to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering, but he knows God’s promise for Isaac and we see in his words his faith that God would follow through on His promise even if he has to sacrifice Isaac.

Abraham’s faith is seen again in his words to Isaac.

But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:7‭-‬8 NKJV

Abraham trusted God to fulfill His Word, no matter the circumstances.

So much so that his hand was raised to kill his son as he understood God to direct him when God stepped in.

But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Genesis 22:11‭-‬12 NKJV

Abraham passed the test.

Nothing and no one was more important to Abraham than following God.

Not even his son, whom he loved.

And because of his devotion to God, his test is a foreshadowing of Jesus, God’s Son, who was sacrificed to pay for all the sins of the world.

John 3:16-17, Gal. 1:4, Luke 24: 25-27 (just a few examples)

The astonishing faith of Abraham, who had never seen or heard of anyone rising from the dead, is inspiring.

Abraham knew God would fulfill His promise through Isaac, as He had said, and no circumstance, not even death would change that.

This was definitely a memorable moment.

No wonder the mount became renamed:

And Abraham called the name of the place, The- Lord -Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Genesis 22:14 NKJV

Such treasures to be gleaned from Abraham’s faith and devotion to God Almighty!

What an incredible story to see God spare Isaac and to realize He instead provided His own Son.

What amazing love shines forth through this!

And it’s attainable today.

God still loves now just as much as He did then.

He loves every single one of us equally.

We know this, because Jesus died for all.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for this astonishing story. Thank You for Abraham’s example to us. Please help me to live in the same way, unwavering faith, incredible devotion, and quick obedience to Your Word. Lord, thank You for sacrificing Yourself for us. Thank You for Your unfailing love. Thank You for Your Word, which guides and hones my heart. Please continue to teach me, that I might not sin against You. May Your name be glorified! Amen.