In his message, Pastor Ruel Muje spoke about
Abraham, whose faith in God became the root of Judaism and
Christianity. In Genesis 12:1-9 and 22:1-19, Abraham, an old
Babylonian emigrant who had a barren wife, displayed a remarkable
faith in God by believing His every Word and obeying His commands.
Abraham's Calling
When God called
Abraham to a particular area he did not know, Abraham did not
hesitate to obey, left the life he knew in Haran and embarked on a
journey as a nomad in a strange land inhabited by Canaanites.
He held on to God's promise that his offspring would become a great
nation, although he was already 75 years old and his wife Sarai was
barren.
In the land of the Canaanites, Abraham built an
altar, as an acknowledgment that the land belongs to the Lord, in a
special way. It was symbolic of Abraham's thanksgiving, praise
and worship for the Lord.
Abraham's Test
The Lord put Abraham's
faith to the supreme test by commanding him to sacrifice his son
Isaac as a burnt offering on a mountain. Without hesitation,
Abraham obeyed, knowing that God gave him Isaac as an offspring that
would become a nation. That was Abraham's faith.
According to Hebrews 11:17-19, "By faith
Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He
who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only
son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your
offspring will be reckoned'. Abraham reasoned that God could raise
the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from
dead."
By believing and trusting God, Abraham committed
the life of his son to Him. When God knew that Abraham would obey
Him, God told Abraham not to lay a hand on Isaac when he was just
about to slay him to be an offering. Abraham then caught a ram
and made it his offering to God. The place was called "The
Lord Will Provide".
God then promised to give Abraham all that he
longed for, and more! "Through your offspring, all nations
on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me," the Lord
said to Abraham. No other man had received such a compliment
from God.
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