ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2021
TEXT: HEBREWS 9:16-28
MEMORY VERSE: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Genesis 22:2 KJV
Our text narrates the greatest test on mankind by God. We read how God instructed Abraham to take his only son Isaac and get to the land of Moriah where he would offer him as a burnt offering unto God. Every test in the life of man by God is not to tempt him to do evil or make him fail but to deepen our capacity to obey Him and develop character. Trials come from the Lord who has the special purpose to bring out the best in us. This is the process that Abraham went through with God.
God refines us through difficult times and circumstances. We have a choice of complaining or see how God can stretch us to develop our character. There are some lessons to be learnt from this story:
- Obeying God comes with great sacrifice. We must show that we love God far above everything else in life, just like Abraham loved God more than his promised and beloved son (Genesis 22:11–12).
- Our faith in God is purified (1 Peter 1:6–9).
- James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that we may mature and be complete, not lacking in anything (James 1:2–4).
- To be mature in God, you must understand that we don’t live our lives on emotions and feelings. We are not governed by our feelings; we are to be people of principles – God’s principles. When we are able to live by God’s principles, we are protected from sin (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).
In times of testing, it is easy to think only about self; instead, focus on glory to Christ. If ever two suffering people revealed Jesus Christ, it was Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah. Their experience is a picture of the most kind: the Father and the Son and the cross; and is one of the most beautiful types of Christ found anywhere in the Old Testament. Jesus said to the Jews, “Your father Abraham, rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8 56).
Some of the benefits of Abraham’s test are:
- Abraham received a new approval from God (Genesis 22:12).
- He received back a new son (Romans 12:1–2).
- God gave Abraham new assurances (Genesis 22:16–18).
- Abraham also learned a new name for God (Genesis 22:14).
- Finally, Abraham came out from this trial with a deeper love for the Lord. Jesus tells us about this deeper love in John 14:21–24; and Paul prayed about it in Ephesians 3:14-21.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
How will you react if you were tested by God to give up that which you love the most? How dependent are you on God, especially in the face of difficulties?
PRAYER POINT
Pray to God to help you over every test before you, so that your relationship with Him will be stronger.
FURTHER READING: John 14: 21, 24; James 1:2-4
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ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2021
