Introduction

Good morning, dear church family. It is a joy to be here with you today, in the house of our Lord, to share His Word and His wisdom. Today, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a profound lesson, a lesson that is as old as the hills, yet as fresh as the morning dew. It's a lesson about faith and obedience, two cornerstones of our Christian walk.

Now, you and I both know that these are not just mere words, but they are the very essence of our relationship with God. They are the lifeblood that sustains us, the compass that guides us, and the anchor that holds us steady amidst the stormy seas of life.

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God, trusts God; and he that trusts God, obeys God." What a profound truth this is! Our faith and our obedience are not separate entities, but they are intricately intertwined, each one feeding and nourishing the other.

Today, we turn to the book of Genesis, chapter 22, verses 1-18. It's a passage that beautifully illustrates this truth. Let's read it together: "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.' Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.' Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, 'Father?' 'Yes, my son?' Abraham replied. 'The fire and wood are here,' Isaac said, 'but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?' Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. 'Do not lay a hand on the boy,' he said. 'Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.' Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.' The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, 'I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.'"

Believing Before Obeying

In the story of Abraham and Isaac, we find a profound example of belief preceding obedience. Abraham, a man of great faith, hears the command of God to sacrifice his son, his only son, whom he loves dearly. It's a command that is beyond comprehension, beyond human understanding. Yet, Abraham does not question God. He does not argue or plead for a different course of action. Instead, he simply believes. He believes in the goodness of God, in the wisdom of God, in the plan of God. And it is this belief that propels him into obedience.

Abraham's belief was not a blind faith. It was not a faith that was devoid of understanding or reason. Rather, it was a faith that was grounded in his past experiences with God. He had seen God's faithfulness in his own life. He had witnessed God's power and provision. He had experienced God's love and mercy. And it was these experiences that informed his belief. He knew that God was trustworthy. He knew that God was good. And so, he believed.

This belief, in turn, led to obedience. Abraham believed in God; and then he acted on that belief. He packed up his donkey, gathered his servants, and set out for the place God had shown him. He prepared the wood for the burnt offering. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. He raised his knife, ready to obey God's command. Every step of the way, his actions were a testament to his belief.

But what does this mean for us? How does Abraham's story of belief and obedience apply to our lives today?

Firstly, it reminds us of the importance of belief in our walk with God. Belief is not just a mental assent to the truths of God. It's not just a checklist of doctrines that we agree with. Rather, belief is a deep-seated conviction that permeates every aspect of our lives. It shapes our thoughts, our decisions, our actions. It's the lens through which we view the world. And it's the foundation upon which we build our lives.

Secondly, it teaches us that belief is a dynamic, ongoing process. It's something that we cultivate and nurture over time. It's something that grows and deepens as we walk with God, as we experience His faithfulness, as we witness His power, as we receive His love.

Next, it underscores the connection between belief and obedience. Belief is not an end in itself. Rather, it's the catalyst for obedience. It's the fuel that drives us to obey God, even when His commands are difficult, even when His plans are incomprehensible. Obedience, in turn, is the evidence of our belief. It's the proof that our faith is genuine, that our trust in God is real.

Lastly, it challenges us to examine our own beliefs. What do we truly believe about God? Do we believe that He is good, that He is wise, that He is trustworthy? Do we believe that His plans for us are for our good, even when they don't make sense? And if we do believe these things, are we living them out? Are we obeying God, even when it's hard, even when it's costly?

Basis of Obedience in Faith

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