January 8, 2010

Today's reading: Genesis 22, 23, 24; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8

Genesis 22:13, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

It has been five (5) long months since I have worked. During that time we have not missed a meal and our bills have stayed caught up. We have not always been able to pay them on time but when we have fallen behind we have been able to get them caught back up. This is the second time this has happened in the past fifteen (15) years. The first time it was due to the both of us being hospitalized and having no insurance we accumulated a lot of hospital bills. We made it then and we will make it now.

Why do I share such personal information with you? Because I want you to know about how God provides. You see twice in my marriage now we have seen God miraculously help us through tough times.

Imagine what Abraham is thinking. He and Sarah were childless for all of those years. Then God has mercy upon them and gives them the child they have hoped for and dreamed of for so long. You know the excitement was running extremely high with this child being born.

Now that God has provided the child He tells Abraham to take him up on the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. What! I cannot imagine what is going through Abraham's mind now. He has had this son of promise for only a short time and now he is to sacrifice him. What was God doing? We know from reading the whole account that God was showing Abraham again that He was in control and could give and take away as He pleased.

Let's think back a little bit. First of all, God provided Abraham with a wife. That is a good thing. Then after many years of fruitlessness; this wife who is a gift from God, has a son in her old age. Long after the mortal body is able to have children Sarah winds up pregnant. What a miraculous provision. Now God wants Abraham to sacrifice this son on an altar on the mountain. Abraham being a man of faith did exactly as the Lord instructed him.

Abraham is a prime example of God's miraculous provision in the lives of His people. This is why it is so important to read the Bible. As we read the Bible we can be encouraged by the things that we read. I am encouraged by the account of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac.

In our lives God has used Churches, other Christians, our local Fire Department, our home Church and our families to meet our needs. God will provide! It is up to you and I to trust Him daily for everything.

Praise Him today for His abundant provision. Why not? He is worthy of our praise. A good starting point is for His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. Like the words of the song, "Let's just praise the Lord". How about it?