July 03, 2025 | Be God's Family
Abraham and Isaac
Scripture: Hebrews 11:17-19(NIV)
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
Devotional
We continue to work through this word "faith." Abraham, called to sacrifice his son, had faith that God had only the best in mind for him. I don't know about you but I'm not sure I could have had the faith of Abraham. I look at my children and cannot imagine life without them. Could I sacrifice one of them if God asked? That is faith. Note that God did not, in the end, ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. God was looking for the willingness to follow. He looks for our being willing to accept the things we cannot understand and continue to have faith in his goodness.
Over 20 years ago our daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It rocked my world. She was just 11 years old, and I was responsible for managing her illness. Now I don't think of myself as a detail person and I have never liked needles. I don't thrive on charts. Luckily I do like schedules. I remember standing in that hospital hallway sure that I was going to take my daughter home and end up hurting or possibly killing her. I didn't know how I was going to do this, but I knew I needed to. I sent a lot of prayers to God and then I just had to trust that He had given us the tools to manage all of this.
Faith – belief in what you cannot see. In the end, we managed, but more than that I came to see that God had given my daughter all the things she needed to live with this illness. It didn't matter that I didn't have them. My job was to believe in her and show her what God had given her. I would never want to choose which one of my children had a life-altering illness, luckily, I didn't have to. God, however, knew which one and he gave her everything she needed.
Belief in the things we cannot see. Faith. Abraham had faith, faith that God had his back, and that God kept his promises. Do you have this kind of faith? I know that I am a work in progress. When I find myself doubting, struggling, or just unsure – I try to stop and remember that God keeps his promises. He doesn't promise a long life, He doesn't promise riches, He doesn't promise health. He promises peace, love, assurance and to let us join him for eternity. I'll take that promise. You?
Poem
A Hymn Of Faith
Psalm 111
[The LORD] has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 111:4, 5, 10
In midst of trials and testing
Cause memory to soar
The promises You gave me
Provision from Your store
Your grace and Your compassion
Your covenant so true
May I face life’s afflictions
With wisdom-fear from You
For You give understanding
E’en when all seems as loss
No matter height of mountain
No matter wooden cross
May I in full assurance
Lay down what’s loved by me
And then await provision
From Your own constancy
