Introduction

Welcome, dear friends. It's a joy to gather together, to share in the warmth of fellowship and to turn our hearts and minds to the sacred text that has been our guide and our comfort throughout the ages. We come together today to consider a story of profound faith and obedience, a story that challenges us, that stirs in us deep questions, and ultimately, a story that brings us closer to the heart of God.

We turn our attention to the book of Genesis, chapter 22, verses 1 through 19. Allow me, if you will, to read these verses to you: "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 your son,' 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.' Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.

Believing in God's Call

When we look at the life of Abraham, we see a man who heard the voice of God and responded with obedience. This was not a simple task. It required a deep trust and a willingness to step into the unknown. Abraham had to believe that the voice he heard was indeed the voice of God and that the instructions given were worth following. This belief was not based on physical evidence or logical reasoning. It was a belief that was deeply spiritual and personal.

Abraham's belief in God's call was an active response. He packed up his belongings, gathered his family, and set out on a journey to an unknown land. He didn't know where he was going or what he would find when he got there. All he knew was that God had called him and he was willing to follow.

This is a challenging idea for many of us. We live in a world that values evidence and logic. We want to know the details before we make a decision. We want to see the end result before we start the journey. But Abraham's story challenges us to think differently. It challenges us to believe in God's call even when we don't have all the answers.

Abraham's belief in God's call was a continuous process. He had to keep believing in God's call even when circumstances were difficult. When there was a famine in the land, he had to believe that God would provide. When his wife was barren, he had to believe that God would fulfill His promise of descendants.

This continuous belief in God's call required a deep level of trust. Abraham had to trust that God was good, that His plans were for the best, and that He would fulfill His promises. This trust was not always easy. There were times when Abraham doubted and struggled. But in the end, he chose to trust in God's call.

Abraham's belief in God's call was about the people around him. His belief in God's call had an impact on his family, his servants, and the people he met along the way. His belief in God's call was a testimony to others. It showed them that there is a God who speaks, who guides, and who provides. Our belief in God's call is not just about us. It's about the people around us. Our belief in God's call can be a testimony to others.

Abraham's belief in God's call was not without cost. He had to leave his homeland, his family, and his familiar surroundings. He had to face challenges and difficulties. He had to sacrifice his son. But despite the cost, Abraham chose to believe in God's call. This is a sobering thought for us. Believing in God's call may require us to make sacrifices. It may require us to step out of our comfort zones. But despite the cost, we are called to believe in God's call.

Becoming Faithful in Commitment

As we continue to reflect on the narrative of Abraham and Isaac, we see that Abraham's faith was not just about believing in God's call ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO