THE CALLING TO GO| A FAITH TO FOLLOW
Genesis 12:1-4 - 1 The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you. 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
Genesis 15:1,5-6 - the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.
THE COVENANT TO MULTIPLY | A PROMISE ON THE WAY
Genesis 17:1-2,6-8,19 - When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. 2 I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.” 6 I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. 8 And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession, and I will be their God.”
19 Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his future offspring.
THE COMMAND TO SACRIFICE | A TEST OF OBEDIENCE
Genesis 22:1-3 - After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” 2 “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac.
“Discipleship is not limited to what you can comprehend — it must transcend all comprehension. Plunge into the deep waters beyond your own comprehension, and I will help you to comprehend even as I do. Bewilderment is the true comprehension. Not to know where you are going is the true knowledge. My comprehension transcends yours.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
GOD MAY CALLS US INTO SITUATIONS WE CANNOT FULLY COMPREHEND SO THAT OUR BEWILDERMENT LEADS US TO DEEPER BELIEF.
Genesis 22:7–8 - Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
Hebrews 11:8, 17-19 - 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, 18 the one it had been said about: Your seed will be traced through Isaac. 19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, and as an illustration he received him back.
IN THE WILDERNESS, DO NOT LET CIRCUMSTANCES — WAITING, SACRIFICES, LOSS, OR SIN — CAUSE YOU TO LOSE SIGHT OF GOD'S PROMISES AND GOODNESS.
Genesis 22:11–12,16-17 - 11 The Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” 12 Then He said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from Me.”
16 …this is the Lord’s declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore.
THE CONTENTMENT FROM FAITHFUL FOLLOWING
Genesis 22:18–19 - “…all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command.” 19 Abraham went back to his young men, and they got up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham settled in Beer-sheba.
Genesis 25:7–8 - This is the length of Abraham’s life: 175 years. He took his last breath and died at a ripe old age, old and contented, and he was gathered to his people.
GOD’S PROMISES ARE A PRODUCT OF FAITH AND HIS PEACE COMES AFTER OBEDIENCE.
IN THE WILDERNESS GOD WILL ALWAYS ASK TWO QUESTIONS:
WILL YOU FOLLOW? WILL YOU SURRENDER?
GOD CALLS US TO TRUST HIM IN THE WILDERNESS, EVEN WHEN WE CANNOT SEE THE OUTCOME.
