Introduction
Hello all. My name is Seth and this is your daily devotion. Picture this; you’re working behind the counter at your favorite convenient store. Take your pick. Somebody walks in with a mask on, pulls out a gun and demands that you start pulling money from the register and putting into their bag. You can tell by the sound of their voice who this person is. You’ve spent a lot of time with them. You know their character and this isn’t something you would ever imagine them doing, but here they are.
What are the odds that you look them dead in the eyes and confidently say, “You’re not gonna rob this store. That’s not who you are. Put that gun away. It’s probably not even loaded. Here, I’ll even pull the money out and lay it all on the counter. You won’t take it. You’re not a thief. I know you.”
You probably wouldn’t, right? It would easier to just give in and call the police afterward, believing that they weren’t who you thought they were. You might even say the store clerk in this story is downright stupid for even challenging the robber. Would you say that about Abraham though? Allow me to explain.
Abraham’s Bold Faith
Genesis 22:1-2 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
The stage is set. The supposed robber walks in and demands an offering.
Verses 4-5 “On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
The clerk begins to confidently deny that the “robber” means what He says.
Verses 7-8 “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
This is yet another denial of the instructions. Surely this isn’t a joke.
Verses 9-10 “When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.”
The clerk, calling the “robber’s” bluff, places the valuables on the counter. He raises his hands and says “Go ahead, take it. I heard you wouldn’t.”
The Result of His Faith
Verses 11-14 “But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
The rest is self explanatory. The “robber” never stole from that store because He wasn’t a robber. The clerk knew this and believed in Him to the very end. Yes, the way I’m portraying this does seem a bit cocky and disrespectful, but I do truly believe that Abraham’s confidence in God was that bold. Where did that confidence come from?
Conclusion/Prayer
Genesis 21:12 “but God told Abraham, “Don’t be troubled about the youth and your slave girl. Pay attention to Sarah in everything she tells you, because your offspring are to be named through Isaac.”
God already promised Abraham that Isaac would continue his legacy. To go back on that would make God a liar, but Abraham knew better. Can you imagine believing in God so strongly that you would call His bluff? Let’s pray on this.
Father, we want to be confident in you, so confident that we never doubt your promises and stand on them, even when you test us with a contradiction. Help us get there. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
That’s all I’ve got for you. Go in peace.