Life Capsule for Today Date 11th September, 2022
Theme: Heroes of faith (1)
Text: Heb 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV
Topic: Abraham chose God over Isaac
Today’s Reading: Heb 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. NKJV
Words of the Ministry:
This week we would be looking at some bible character from the old testament who stood out in their age, turning the age and leaving us an example. Such bible characters are most times referred to as heroes of faith found in Hebrews 11. I would start by considering Abraham normally referred to as the father of faith because of the life he lived in relation to God’s command. I would particularly comment of that part of his life that had to do with his promised son, the test he faced and how he passed hoping we can learn from his life.
Abraham was called out of his kindred at age 75 (Gen 2), he obeyed God and went to an unknown country by faith. He and his wife Sarah trusted God for a Child for 25 years before they had a son called Isaac, within those 25 years Abraham had a son called Ishmael from his maid Haggai. After some time, Sarah and Hagar had some disputes and Abraham had to send her Hagar and his son Ishmael away. After the birth of Isaac, Abraham had only Isaac left with him and he loved him so much, aside being his son of old age, he was particularly a son of promise which Abraham had to wait 25 years to receive. Isaac on the other hand also loved Abraham dearly hence he was the only son with his father.
Before the birth of Isaac, God had promised Abraham that he would be a father of many nations through his promised seed so when Abraham had his son Isaac, he was fulfilled knowing the promise and covenant of God was intact and was being fulfilled. God saw the overwhelming love between the father and child, he saw that Abraham loved his son Isaac to the extreme and the son on the other hand loved the father as an idol. God decided to test Abraham, to break the love, to redirect their focus to him. God told Abraham to commence on a three days’ journey to mount Moriah and sacrifice his son, Abraham commenced on the journey. The three days’ journey was enough time for Abraham to change his mind but he continued. One can imagine how Abraham felt when his son said we have the fire and the wood, where is the animal for the sacrifice,? That could have struck a chord in Abraham but he still chose to obey God over the love he had for his son.
On getting to the mountain, Abraham tied his son Isaac, Isaac at that point must have being thinking despite his love for his father, he is actually wanting to kill him, he has chosen to please God over him, his love for God actually superseded his love for me (Isaac) his only son. Abraham too would have sad well, the Lord giveth and taketh, I love my son but I trust my God, if he takes Isaac, he can raise him back from the dead or give me another son. Just before Abraham slaughtered his son, God called him and replaced Isaac with a ram. Isaac was speared and Abraham got his son back. The event not only showed Abraham as a man of faith that loved God above all but also redirected the love of Abraham to a God that cannot fail, the great provider Jehovah Jireh and at the same time it killed the idolatry in Isaac and from that point he rather looked unto God that saved him from death than his father Abraham.
Saints check with your experience, don’t you chose Isaac over God, don’t you dedicate your first love to Isaac instead of God. Have you not replaced the love you had for God with your spouse, children, job, properties, degree, car, account balance, church etc. Can you sacrifice that Isaac to gain God? Do you trust the God that provided that Isaac to provide you a replacement if need be? Do you now guard your Isaac jealously forgetting both you and all you own is from God and by his grace? Has your bank account become an idol, do you feel sad when you have an unexplained debit that you are so disorganized and irritated that you can’t even eat or sleep until you get to the bank to understand why the debit but you careless when you miss you morning devotion or church meeting. What is the Isaac that has replaced your first love? Repent today before it’s too late.
Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 37-39
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