When I was in my senior year in high school I began praying the Lord would direct me where I was to go to college and what I should choose as my major. After my decision had been made, and in the months leading up to it, I had conversations with my Dad about how I would pay for it. My parents were honest with me about their inabilities to fund my college career and informed me they would only be able to help at a minimal level. Leading up to move-in day I dealt with some mild anxiety about how I would secure the finances. If asked, I had all the right “churchy” answers. If you could have experienced my thoughts, you would have known I was struggling. I remember the day I had to go to the business office to have a discussion and give them my decision how I would pay the funds for that semester. I left the office and walked out whispering a prayer. “Okay, God. I have no clue where this money is coming from. If it is truly Your will for me to attend, You’ll have to supply the funds.” As the Lord is my witness (and I’ll spare you the long story), within an hour, the Lord had supplied the $1,800 for me to pay for the semester through two different avenues. I was blown away at how quickly things happened! This same scenario was repeated every semester until I graduated. Sometimes the funds came in the “midnight hour” but God always provided.
Abraham was a man of great faith. It was the extent of his faith in God that made him the greatest patriarch of our Christian faith. He was forced to endure a wait of 100 years to receive the promise of a son, Isaac, with his wife Sarah. Once he received his promise, God threw him another curveball. Genesis 22:1-2 tells us, “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” Wait! Take the life of my child? Could you imagine the newspaper headlines of that day, “Man Kills His Son After Hearing from the Voice of God.” This request from God seems so far outside of the realm of the logical. I would have probably questioned if I were hearing from the enemy in that moment. The Bible records that Abraham woke up the next morning, prepared, and set out to do what God told him. This wasn’t some small feat as it required a three-day trip carrying food, drink, the essentials necessities for sacrifice, and more. He had plenty of time to consider what he was being instructed to do. Abraham was, no doubt, keenly aware the other promises he had received (that his lineage would be compared to the dust of the earth and the stars of the sky) all hinged on the life of Isaac. As he was poised to kill the boy, an angel stopped him. He then noticed a ram caught in the bushes. Coincidence? I highly doubt it! Provision was supplied because of his willingness to follow the will of God. Had he based his faith in God on his feelings, he would have stayed home and done nothing. Faith doesn’t require your feelings. It requires your feet. That doesn’t mean it will be easy or even make sense at times. But faith will always require something of you.
Closing remarks and encouragement: God always provided for my needs–but it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t stepped out in faith. My provision was linked directly to my step of faith. Abraham lived a life of submission to God employing great faith and trust in God. What is your promise? Don’t assume you can sit back and do nothing and still receive your promise. Your promises will require action on your part? Are you willing to sacrifice the thing you love most?