We have spent many days in this study of God’s covenant with mankind looking at the life of Abraham and how God’s covenant remained and stood firm because of God’s faithfulness.  We have watched while God demonstrated His Grace, His Love, and His Glory to Abraham.  It was God who had taken Abraham by the hand and taught Abraham to trust in God’s faithfulness and God’s plan.  God now wished to symbolically demonstrate in a spectacular manner the plan of redemption and at the same time demonstrate the faith that Abraham had learned. 

photo used courtesy of @istock

God’s Glory shines brightest when His children trust Him against all odds, waiting through difficult trials, obeying when man’s logic would say no, and dying to one’s own desires; that God’s magnificent Glory might be reflected back to Him as sunlight brilliantly reflects from a mirror.  There in the midst of all that surrounds, the child is enwrapped with God’s abiding love, joy, hope, and redemption.

  There is no greater place of ecstasy for God’s child while a mystified, unbelieving world looks on.  That was the case when, now God asked Abraham as recorded in Genesis 22 to take his son, Isaac and sacrifice him on the altar.  The very command would seem so unreasonable and so unimaginable.  Surely, Abraham had heard wrong—but in that time with Abraham God had spoken very clearly and there was no doubt what God had said.  Yet, all the years of Abraham’s life had taught Him to trust in God’s Faithfulness to complete all that He had promised within His covenant with Abraham.  God was faithful and Abraham set out to do as he was commanded.  If you have read the story, you know that God at the last moment provides a ram to be the substitute.  Look at

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Twenty five years had passed from the time that God had first made His covenant with Abraham.  Abraham’s faith had waxed and waned; though his heart yearned for God.  God with great patience, mercy and grace had proven to be faithful to Abraham and had guided his every step.  God had walked with Abraham, spoke with Abraham, had sent signs, and had been ever faithful.  Then the time was right—God’s timing.  Genesis 21: 1 “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.² For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.³ And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.⁴ And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.⁵ And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.”

used by courtesy of @istock

How incredible must have been Abraham’s joy when Isaac was born.  Think about this.  Could Abraham have felt the same marvel 25 years prior?  If Sarah had born Isaac 25 years prior, there would have been joy; but nothing to compare to the joy that came now.  God might have been glorified; but not nearly as much as now when it required a miracle of God for Isaac to be born.

God was calling out a people to be His chosen from whom He would one day send His son to be the redeemer and it was necessary that the lineage begin with an event so great that all would know that God was the most High Almighty God who was their nourishment and their provision and that knowledge be carried forward through the generations.

Is there some promise of God that you are still waiting for the answer?  You wonder if the problem is your own lack of faith at moments.  You stumble along at times; wondering if God could ever use such a one as you.  Yet, step by step;

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Many years had passed from the time that God had told Abraham to leave the land of his youth and go into the land promised to him. Many years had passed from the time that God had promised Abraham that he would be a Father of and a Blessing to many nations. Sarah was now too old to have a child; yet, God had promised that Abraham would be fruitful through Sarah. Years had gone by and God had inch by inch, step by step guided the growth of Abraham’s faith. So, now at age 99, God comes to Abraham and identifies Himself as El Shaddai. This is the first time God has referred to Himself as El Shaddai in the scripture. Look at Genesis 17 in the Expanded Version.

Drawing used with written permission of Ronald Barba. © 2012 Ronald Barba and is protected under copyright laws.

There would be no doubt as to God’s faithfulness and there would be no doubt as to God’s power, righteousness and justice. God would provide the means to destroy sin and death once and for all through Christ.

Genesis 17 (EXP) “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am ·God Almighty [^L El Shaddai]. ·Obey [^L Walk before] me and ·do what is right [^L be innocent/blameless; Job 1:1].² I will make an ·agreement [covenant; treaty; 6:18] between ·us[^L me and you], and I will make you ·the ancestor of many people[^L exceedingly numerous].”³ Then Abram ·bowed facedown on the ground [^L fell on his face]. God said to him, ⁴ “I am making my ·agreement [covenant; treaty;6:18] with you: I will make you the father of ·many [^L a host/multitude of] nations.”

There is some controversy as to translating the meaning of El Shaddai.

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The years continue to pass in Abraham’s life and God step by step continues to demonstrate His Faithfulness toward Abraham. Abraham has grown to see that God is His provider. When Melchizedek, “priest of the most high God” offered Abraham possessions; Abraham’s reply was that God was His provider and thus Abraham declined the offer. Yet, ten years have passed and still no child to fulfill the promise God had made to Abraham. God then “came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.² And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?³ And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.⁴ And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.⁵ And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.⁶ And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15) It would be 15 more years before Isaac would be born. God would be faithful, providing the seed that would lead to redemption. Abraham’s faith in that promise would waiver during those years, at times strong and others easily persuaded to take the matter into his own hands to “help God out.”

Is there any promise that you are awaiting God’s fulfillment? Is there any direction that you were sent by God and now you wonder if you heard Him right because now the future seems frightening? You had prayed, you had fasted, and you had been given clear direction. As a great leap of faith you obeyed. Then comes the famine, the waiting period, and a sense of anxiety rises so that you think perhaps God wants you to rush in and help Him fix this.

Many times, God delays His fulfillment of the plan for several reasons. Those reasons include:

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FAITH

By Effie Darlene Barba

 

Faith is the hope

When everything goes wrong

That rises from the ashes

To bring with it a song

 

Faith is the voice

That whispers in the night

Breaking through the silence

Gentle, sweet delight

 

Faith is the strength

That lifts you from the fall

With might to take one step

Or bound the highest wall

 

Faith is the Gift

Of God’s Unfailing Love

Cradled in His arms

Sweet lullaby above

© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”