East End

4-20-08

Text: Genesis 22:1-19

We all know the popular story of Abraham’s faith being tested in the near sacrifice of Isaac. Out of that story one small detail has always stood out to me. In verse five Abraham is talking to his servants and he told them to stay there and at the end of verse five is one of the most remarkable statements of faith. At the end of verse five Abraham says, “I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Many people just gloss over that point. There are two points that I would like to make about that one phrase. First of all notice what Abraham was going to do, “worship.” God had already revealed His plans to Abraham, Abraham was to go and sacrifice his son to God. Although undoubtedly painful, Abraham knew that his obedience and sacrifice was a form of worshipping God. When we think of worship we think of a worship service. But Scripture is very clear, obedience is worship. Can you imagine being Abraham? You’re walking up a mountain knowing that God has asked you to lay everything you have on the altar and give it over to Him. Take it one step further can you imagine actually laying everything you have on the altar willingly? This is precisely what God wants us to do. Obviously He is not asking you to sacrifice your family, but He is asking you to lay everything you have and everything you are on the altar. If we are to walk obediently with God, we must lay it all on the altar of sacrifice. Only then will we fulfill Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Which leads me to the second point from this phrase, “and we will come back to you.” Abraham knew that both he and Isaac would come back together. The obvious question then is, how did Abraham know that? God never told him, in fact all that God said was for Abraham to take his son up to a mountain that God would show him and sacrifice Isaac. Yet in the midst of uncertainty, Abraham was certain that God could do whatever He wanted, however He wanted. That is faith! God doesn’t always give clear directions, but He always gives you enough information for you to be obedient to Him right then, the rest is faith. In times such as these, somewhat scary, frightening, and uncertain take comfort that there is a God who loves you, died for you, and wants to spend eternity with you. That is why God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you. You may have lost faith in man and the rest of the world, but you can always have faith in God that He did what He said He did, that He will do what He says He will do, and that no matter where life takes you He is right there. Jesus did not come to judge you when He walked the first time, He came to save you. He did that by dying on the cross and three days later walking out of that garden tomb. Now all you have to do to be a child of God is believe that Jesus is who He said He was and that He did what He said He did. Can you believe that Jesus is the son of God? Can you believe that He died on the cross for your sins so that by trusting Him you would be forgiven of all your sins and given an eternal home in heaven? If you can believe those things, it is called faith. Once you have faith you will want to worship God and the best form of worship is your obedience to Him by laying it all on the altar. Can you truly sing the song from your heart, “Have thine own way Lord, have thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.” Are those lyrics lived out in your life? God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. Are you ready to have faith in Him and worship the One who died for you? May we all have faith like Abraham, though the way be uncertain may we say, “Yes, Lord!”