Rhapsody of Realities 13 January 2025: Faith and Sacrifice
Scripture: Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions
In 1 Kings 3, we read about Solomon offering one thousand burnt offerings to God. As a result, God appeared to him that night and said, “…Ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon was only required to offer one burnt offering, but he went above and beyond, offering a thousand. As a result, he received divine attention.
Realizing the power of his offering, the next time he was to offer oblation to the Lord, he made it 22,000 burnt offerings. And once again, God responded by speaking to him and granting him promises. Also consider the example of Noah in Genesis 8. After the Flood, Noah’s first act was to build an altar and offer burnt offerings of every clean beast and bird. The Bible says, “And the LORD smelled a sweet savour…” and as a result, God made a promise: “…I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake…” (Genesis 8:21).
Noah’s offering was like incense rising to heaven, a sweet-smelling aroma for which God released promises and blessings for Noah and his sons, giving them dominion over all the earth: “…Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth… into your hand are they delivered” (Genesis 9:1-2).
Similarly, the Lord Jesus obtained promises through His sacrificial death for us on the Cross. Following His obedience and vicarious sacrifice, the Bible says, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). Jesus obtained dominion over all because He was obedient in offering Himself.
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
The Bible speaks of others who also obtained promises through their faith and actions as read in our opening scripture. The Greek word for promise in that verse is “epaggelia,” which means to get an announcement of something good that God has given you. This principle remains the same; you too can cause God to announce something good for you through your sacrificial offering, through the power of faith and the principle of sacrifice. It’s one of the reasons why giving to God is so important. You can be praying and He’ll say something to you in your spirit just as in the examples above. Hallelujah!
PRAYER: Dear Father, I thank you for the power of faith and the principle of sacrifice. I walk in your grace today for answered prayers. My oblations of faith and righteousness rise as a sweet-smelling savour to you, and I walk in the fulfilment of your promises in my life. I live in dominion and walk in the victory of your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Genesis 8:20-22
nd Noah built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean [four-footed] animal and of every clean fowl or bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 When the Lord smelled the pleasing odor [a scent of satisfaction to His heart], the Lord said to Himself, I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the imagination (the strong desire) of man’s heart is evil and wicked from his youth; neither will I ever again smite and destroy every living thing, as I have done.
22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
1 Kings 3:5
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night. And God said, Ask what I shall give you.
Philippians 2:8-9
And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
9 Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,
1 – YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:1-23 & Genesis 31-33
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 5:41-48 & Genesis 13
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Rhapsody of Realities 13 January 2025
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