Hebrews 11:17-19 Amplified Bible
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested [that is, as the testing of his faith was still in progress], [a]offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises [of God] was ready to sacrifice his only son [of promise]; 18 to whom it was said, “Through Isaac your descendants shall be called.” 19 For he considered [it reasonable to believe] that God was able to raise Isaac even from among the dead. [Indeed, in the sense that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to God] Abraham did receive him back [from the dead] figuratively speaking.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
There are many times the LORD has promised me great things, but for some reason, I have always received things that I thought were just too mediocre.
I try to be content with all that the LORD has given. But, it always bothered me why am I not receiving the great things that the LORD has promised, why do I always end up with the things that are not what actually the LORD promised…
Recently few things happened in our family and by the grace of our LORD, we will be able to provide witness to those events for the glory of our LORD. Still, it bothered me we did not receive the promises of the LORD as He has promised.
When I asked the LORD, the only answer was: “Have the faith of Abraham.”
Okay, first of all, I don’t think nor believe that I can have a faith like Abraham.
I mean, he is called the father of all faithful for a reason, right? I mean, even today, after knowing all I know about our LORD, I don’t think I would be willing to ever sacrifice my children, but Abraham, he could, he would and he sure did.
But then the LORD made me realize that He was talking about some other angle.
Isaac was born when both Abraham and his wife Sarah were really old.
Now, the LORD was asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac.
We all talk about the unquestioning obedience of Abraham and how he did not hesitate to do the LORD’s command, then to have Isaac gather up the kindling.
The LORD is not expecting us to do the same. But there is something else we must learn from this. Till then, no one had ever be risen from dead, so Abraham had no reason to believe that. What would then be the best alternative to that?
It would have been easier for me in 2024 to believe that even if young Isaac was killed, the LORD would be able to give another child to Abraham and Sarah. That would obviously be a whole lot easier than resurrecting someone from death.
But Abraham did not seek an alternative. He believed in the Word of the LORD. He believed in the Word of the LORD as it was. The LORD’s original promise was that it was through Isaac, his offspring would be reckoned. (Hebrews 11:18)
If Isaac was sacrificed, then God could always give another child for Abraham and start a new covenant. But Abraham did not budge from his obedience. He believed the original promise of the LORD. So, his faith was on only one thing: even if I had to sacrifice Isaac today, the LORD would assuredly resurrect him.
That’s exactly the steadfastness of faith the LORD is directly asking from us.
Say the LORD has given you a promise, you are waiting eagerly for that promise.
But somehow things go unexpectedly wrong, the doors are shut and instead of great things the LORD has promised, you receive some lesser thing. It is not as great as the LORD has promised, but it is still better than what you had before.
What could you, would you, suggest to do?
What could you, would you, recommend?
Will you automatically or begrudgingly settle for this, that, and thank the LORD for providing at least this? Or, will you hardcore hold on to the original promise, keep moving forward with faith that the LORD will fulfill His Word as He has promised?
Your well considered answer will decide the blessings you receive in your life.
Believe in the Word of the LORD and believe in every letter of the Word.
The Business of Being in God’s Unchanging Word
Hebrews 4:11-16 Amplified Bible
11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness]. 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b] soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. 16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
In too many ways, from too many directions, life can feel overwhelming.
Every day brings new challenges even as old ones continue without resolution.
It’s easy to allow our faith to trip on the stumbling block of our own lack of understanding of our circumstances—to take the baton of faith, as it were, toss it to the ground, saying, “no more steps, I’m finished. I can’t run any further.”
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Amplified Bible
The Mystery of Resurrection
50 Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal). 51 Listen very carefully, I tell you a mystery [a secret truth decreed by God and previously hidden, but now revealed]; we will not all sleep [in death], but we will all be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed], 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at [the sound of] the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [who believed in Christ] will be raised imperishable, and we will be [completely] changed [wondrously transformed]. 53 For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us that is capable of dying] must put on immortality [which is freedom from death]. 54 And when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the Scripture will be fulfilled that says, “Death is swallowed up in victory (vanquished forever). 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
In those moments, God’s word speaks directly and decisively, encourages us to remember that the witness of the Christian faith is a testimony, enduring faith that remains resolute. It is so possible to remain obedient to God’s commands even when everything around us seems to contradict what He has promised.
Until the cross, perhaps nowhere in Scripture do we find a more hardcore, thoroughly overwhelming moment than with Isaac in the life of Abraham.
It was a moment that occurred entirely at the instigation of God:
“[God] said, ‘Take 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’ … When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son” (Genesis 22:2, 9-10).
God’s command to Abraham was clear—and yet it seemed to contradict God’s sure and ironclad promise that through Abraham’s offspring
“all the nations of the earth” would “be blessed” and that “through Isaac shall your offspring be named” (Genesis 22:18; 21:12).
Believe it! The fulfillment of God’s promises depended upon Isaac’s survival.
If Isaac was to die, how could the promise possibly be fulfilled?
Yet Abraham still obeyed. Even though his circumstances could have led him to doubt and question God’s word, by faith Abraham said,
God has a plan in this. His promise is that through Isaac all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Therefore, He must be going to resurrect him—to raise him up from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).
This is why earlier, as Abraham had left to perform the commanded sacrifice, he had said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you” (Genesis 22:5, emphasis added).
What an expression of faith! Do not miss this: when the command was given to Abraham, he obeyed it. Although it seemed to directly contradict the promises God had made, Abraham did his business, and he determined to let God do His.
We can do so too.
As difficult as it is do not allow your circumstances, however daunting they may be, to lessen your obedience or cause you to call God’s promises into question.
Centuries after Abraham and Isaac climbed up, and down, this mountain, and carried their wood, God’s own Son rose from the grave on the side of that same mountain, as the ultimate testimony to the truth that God keeps His promises.
So you and I and the Church in all of its rancor and rhetoric can face whatever today brings confidently, hopefully, and prayerfully, saying, “I can keep going. I’m not finished, God is not finished. God will do His part, so I can do mine.”
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 46 Amplified Bible
God the Refuge of His People.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song.
46 God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
3
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.
4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5
God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved;
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
8
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.
9
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
11
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 
