The God That Provides Series

The God That Provides

Genesis 22:1-14 (pg 14) September 8, 2013

Introduction:

For almost 2 years my son was in Bagdad, Iraq. He was part of the 1st Cav ... His job, a Gunner in a Bradley Fighting vehicle, or Humvee. He made 3886 trips into the streets and homes of Bagdad…He had his vehicle blown out from under him twice.

The casualty rate for Tyler’s job was about 33%. In each vehicle is a driver, a navigator and a gunner. The Gunner is always exposed . . . Always being shot at . . . Always shooting back.

There was a part of me, a big part that knew Tyler might not come home. That any day the phone could ring and it would be “the US government regretting to inform us”

My daughter was a senior in H.S. during this time and anyone whose had a Senior in H.S. knows what kind of phone calls are going to come. Recruiting calls from every service branch. Here’s something I will tell you that you might not know. All these recruiting calls come through the caller I.D. as “U.S. government” Every single time the phone rang and I look at that Identification on the I.D. my heart dropped... dreading the news ... fearing the pain.

Those 18 months where I could not spare my son, nor protect him were extremely difficult. They were months of faith. They were times to trust my Savior.

I was in Killeen, TX when Tyler stepped off that white bus and even as I remember the circumstances with you know I can barely contain the emotion of having a son . . . I’d experienced the fear of losing ... walking safely into my arms.

Some of you have felt the same emotions. Some of you have experienced a child’s death., or a child that is spiritually dead . You’ve wondered how much faith it would take to trust and endure . . . And you weren’t sure you could endure it.

The question: What happens when God asks for “All In” faith? What happens when He asks you to trust Him with the most precious priority in your life.

I. ARE YOU WILLING TO WALK UP THE MT.?

I’ve discovered something as I get a little older. I’m afraid of God.

I don’t just revere God because of His absolute perfection and holiness...

I FEAR HIM.

Listen I know He loves me . . . loves me beyond my ability to understand love. Romans 8:37-39 shares that truth. “Nothing, nothing is able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He did not spare giving His only son for us.”

But, His plan for you, and I and everyone else is also recorded in Romans 8:29 To shape us, conform us into the image of His only Son.” (vs 29)

Where does that shaping take place? Where does faith shine like polished silver? When it’s tested... When it’s required to prove itself.

It’s when we are asked to walk up the mountain carrying the wood for sacrifice and the fire, and when it’s God asking us for what we love the most.

How often does God ask us to be “All In?” Honestly? Not very often ... Even our tithe is 10% when we all know, or should, every good gift comes from the Father above.

Abraham had learned to trust God’s provision over a lifetime of tests...Some he passed, some he failed..All he learned from!

Abraham left the Ur of the Chaldeans to go where God would lead him...left his homeland and relatives. All In, pretty close. Abraham lied about Sarah being his wife to protect himself and his stuff. He failed miserably. Abraham & Sarah were promised a child, but because it took too long they tried through Hagar, Sarah’s maid. Giant Fail!!!

So as an old man, maybe 115-120 when God says, “Take your son, your only son Isaac to the Mt. Region of Moriah and (vs 2) sacrifice him here” Abraham has a lifetime of passes and failures to filter this request through. And what comes out of that filter? God has always been faithful. God has always honored His promises. God has never lied to me. He has never broken the covenant.

It took him 3 days to get to the place of sacrificed, I wonder what the conversation was like, did Abraham sleep? I don’t know but when they arrived at the Mt. He told the servants to stay put while “I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you” (vs 5) We, that two letter word says a lot.

Romans 4:21-22 says “Abraham was fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness.”