Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Wednesday, September 25, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and accepting me through Your Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord! As I go about this day fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit that I may share Your love and grace with every person I meet. Fill me with the joy that You alone can give, and empower me to overcome every temptation I may face. Use me as an instrument to advance Your Kingdom and may my thoughts, words and actions serve to lead others to glorify and honor You. I give You all the credit in advance for any good that gets lived out through me today. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 22:1-19
1 Later on God tested Abraham's faith and obedience. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am." 2 "Take your son, your only son – yes, Isaac, whom you love so much – and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will point out to you." 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son Isaac. Then he chopped wood to build a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place where God had told him to go. 4 On the third day of the journey, Abraham saw the place in the distance. 5 "Stay here with the donkey," Abraham told the young men. "The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back." 6 Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders, while he himself carried the knife and the fire. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac said, "Father?" "Yes, my son," Abraham replied. "We have the wood and the fire," said the boy, "but where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" 8 "God will provide a lamb, my son," Abraham answered. And they both went on together. 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told Abraham to go, he built an altar and placed the wood on it. Then he tied Isaac up and laid him on the altar over the wood. 10 And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to kill his son as a sacrifice to the LORD. 11 At that moment the angel of the LORD shouted to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," he answered. "I'm listening." 12 "Lay down the knife," the angel said. "Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me." 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering on the altar in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place "The LORD Will Provide." This name has now become a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." 15 Then the angel of the LORD called again to Abraham from heaven, 16 "This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son, I swear by my own self that 17 I will bless you richly. I will multiply your descendants into countless millions, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. They will conquer their enemies, 18 and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed – all because you have obeyed me." 19 Then they returned to Abraham's young men and traveled home again to Beersheba, where Abraham lived for quite some time.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What is the most valuable or important thing you have ever sacrificed as a follower of Jesus?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
What test is put before Abraham in today’s reading? (22:1-12)
What is the result of Abraham’s “passing” the test? (22:13-19)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
Why do you suppose God put Abraham through the test of sacrificing his only son?
What impact do you think this incident had on Abraham and Isaac’s relationship?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
Think of one area in your life where you need to take a big step of faith and obedience. Ask God to give you the power to take it today!
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“The Test!”
No one has ever endured a greater test of their faith than Abraham did when God told him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. Why would God do such a thing? We’re told in the Scripture that God was aware after Abraham drew the knife over his head to kill Isaac, that Abraham’s faith in God was adequate. Actually, God knew that before Abraham went through the test. After all, God knows everything! That means that the test wasn’t for God’s benefit at all—it was for Abraham’s. Imagine, though, being in Abraham’s shoes. He had waited years and years for Isaac—the son of promise—to be born. He had watched as Isaac grew, and every day of that child’s life, Abraham must have said, “Wow! God is able to do anything! God is faithful!” Then came the test. “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much…. sacrifice him as a burnt offering.” If Abraham had ever hoped that he had heard God wrong, this must have been the time. But he obeyed. He took wood, and fire, and his son and he went to the top of Mount Moriah alone. The servants were left at the bottom of the mountain. Isaac was curious. He knew that a sacrifice required an animal. He asked where the animal was, and Abraham said, “God will provide a lamb, my son.” He did. God provided a ram that day in place of Isaac. And He provided His Lamb, His Son, Jesus, for us! Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son. God DID!
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