abrahamlesson8

Abraham hears God calling to him. Something completely unexpected is about to be asked of him as he is ...

Something special, something important, can be anticipated on responding to such a summons. There will be different kinds of invitation according to our situation at the time. It may be an invitation for an audience with the Lord …

So that we may come to know him.
This is a call to repentance. To those who criticised his association with people of doubtful character, Jesus replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend time with those who think they are already good enough.” (Luke 5:31-32). It is a call …

- to the unsaved to repent and accept the forgiveness he offers. Many in Thessalonica responded to this call from the Lord. Paul wrote later to encourage them. “As for us, we always thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and by your belief in the truth. He called you to salvation when we told you the good news; now you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).

- to come out of the darkness into his light. Peter reminded his scattered readers of this. “…for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

- from the unworthy to the worthy. Paul reminded the church members in Thessalonica of this aspect of their calling. “We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you into his Kingdom to share his glory …God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives.” (1 Thessalonians 2:12, 4:7).

- from religious bondage to freedom in Christ. Paul takes up this thought in a letter to the churches of Galatia. “For you, dear friends, have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13).

- a state of unrest to rest. Jesus sends this invitation to all people. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

- from sitting at the feet of worldly minded philosophers to learn from him. Jesus continues. “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30). Just as Mary did. She who “sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.” (Luke 10:39).

A call to repent and accept the forgiveness made possible by Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is followed up by ...

An invitation to walk with him.
Micah wrote of this, “…the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). Having come to know him, the Lord wants us to walk with him, starting just where we are at the time.

Paul advises that it is best not to look for a change in our circumstances when we become Christians, but to walk with him in the situation we are in at the time of our decision to follow him. He writes, “You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in and continue on as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches …So, dear brothers and sisters, whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in your new relationship with God.” (1 Corinthians 7:17, 24). Married or single, circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or freeman, employer or employee, whatever the situation, walk with the Lord there.

The question as to whether or not to remain in a situation involving sinful activities does not arise because we will have already left that behind when we responded to the call to repentance.

Whatever our vocation, we are first and foremost to be servants of the Lord. “Whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father … Work hard cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:17, 23).

And so, writes Paul, “…just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done.” (Colossians 2:6-7). This is what it means to walk with the Lord.

While it is God’s will for most people to continue in their present vocation on becoming Christians, for some there may come …

A call to take up a new challenge.
For Paul it was to leave his vocation as a Pharisee to become a missionary. This was revealed first to his mentor Ananias when the Lord said to him, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you arrive, ask for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying to me right now …For Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:11, 15).

Paul then enjoyed audience with the Lord in Arabia where he thought through the implications of his new found faith. It was there that his calling was clarified for him. It may also have been that in Arabia he began to fulfil his calling to take the Christian message to Gentiles. He wrote later of this experience. “But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and call me, even before I was born! What undeserved mercy! Then he revealed his Son to me so that I could proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When all this happened to me, I did not rush out to consult with anyone else; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before me. No I went away into Arabia and later returned to the city of Damascus.” (Galatians 1:15-17).

Just to be with him.
To be with him, so that each may take pleasure in the presence of the other. The disciples enjoyed many times like this. In fact it became an essential part of their lives. Like this occasion. “The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.’ ” (Mark 6:30-31). Or this. “Afterwards Jesus went up on a mountain and called the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.” (Mark 3:12). Or this special time with the Lord. “Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain.” (Matthew 17:1) Or as two others walked with Jesus along the road to their home in the village of Emmaus. “Then he started at the beginning, with the books of Moses, and went on through all the prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.” (Luke 24:27)[1]. To be with him, to be taught by him, to appreciate who he is, to bask in the sunshine of his love, to romp with him in his garden, to scale the mountains with him.

David tells us of his delight in the presence of his Lord. “I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken for he is right beside me …You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever” (Psalm 16:8, 11).

And one day the summons will come for us to be with him in heaven. Then, whether it be at the time of his return while we are still alive or whether it be at the time of our death, we will be with “remain with him forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Paul looked forward to this day. He was willing to stay but always ready to go. “I’m torn between two desires: Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.” (Philippians 1:23).

To give an account of how we have lived our lives.
Jesus referred to this time on many occasions. Speaking to his disciples about his second coming he reminded them, “Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.” (Luke 16:2). To the religious leaders he said, “A tree is identified by its fruit … And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgement day of every idle word you speak.” (Matthew 12:33, 36). Jesus drew a picture of the accountability he was talking about in a story he told about a man who left money for his servants to invest for him while he was away on a trip. “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.” (Matthew 25:19). The Lord has given to all people the gift of life to be invested for him. We will be summoned one day to give an account of the investment we have made. Either at the time of his return or at the time of death if we were to die before he comes. “…it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes the judgement.” (Hebrews 9:27). Paul reminds us, “Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgement seat of God.” (Romans 14:10). Likewise another writer. “Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.” (Hebrews 4:13).

It is at the time of judgement that the record of each person’s life will be shown to them. This was first revealed to Daniel. He writes, “I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like whitest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire and a river of fire flowed from his presence. Millions of angels ministered to him and a hundred million stood to attend him. Then the court began his session, and the books were opened.” (Daniel 7:9-10).

Many years later John witnessed the same scene. “And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the sky fled from his presence but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds.” (Revelation 20:11-13).

It is at this point that we make an amazing discovery. When the Book of Life is opened we notice that it contains the names of the ransomed people of God “a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language” (Revelation 5:9). But look carefully, turn every page, there is nothing recorded against them. Why not? Did they lead perfect lives on earth? Is there nothing at all that bring a guilty verdict? Surely there is something for which they must pay a penalty? There was but it has all been erased. How can that be possible? It is because they have accepted the sacrificial death of Christ as being on their behalf. He has borne the penalty for them. “All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6). There are no charges to be laid. The record is clear. The Lord himself gives us this assurance. “I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.” (Isaiah 43:25).

Whatever the summons, the only appropriate response is to respond as Samuel did. “And the LORD came and called as before. ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel replied, ‘Yes, your servant is listening’ ” (1 Samuel 3:10)
Abraham responded in the same way. “ ‘Abraham!’ God called. ‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘Here I am.’ ” (vs. 1) Abraham is about to be presented with a test that few would be able to handle. It was ...

The instructions Abraham receives are staggering. “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.” (vs. 2).

Abraham is not left to himself in responding to this call. The Lord is involved with him. He will guide him through each phase of this momentous test. He will be with him all the way. Just as he is with all who respond to God’s call to sacrificial obedience, presented in the word picture of Paul’s challenge to the Christians in Rome, “And so, dear Christian friends, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask.” (Romans 12:1).

Paul goes on to explain that this sacrificial obedience as called for by the Lord, is to be worked out in every aspect of life. “Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” (Romans 12:2).

Obedience does not come naturally. It represents a growth in character. It is a quality that develops in the life of a growing Christian. It is learned best in the school of suffering. “So even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of salvation for all those who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8).

When God calls on his people to make sacrifices in the course of their service for him, he understands exactly when they struggle to do what he asks of them. He understood as Abraham wrestled overnight with this request to give up his son. For did he not right from the beginning, plan the very same thing for his own son? Peter reminded his readers of this. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless lamb of God. God chose him for this very purpose long before the world began, but now in these final days, he was sent to the earth for all to see. And he did this for you.” (1 Peter 1:18-20). And John wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Sometime during the night Abraham’s struggle came to an end when he submitted his will to God’s will. Whatever it may cost he would obey. And so it was that “The next morning Abraham got up early.” (vs. 3a).

- began the journey not knowing all the details. He was to “go to the land of Moriah …one of the mountains which I will point out to you.” (vs. 2). Just as it was when he was called to leave Haran many years before. “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as an inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8).

- showed his willingness by making careful preparations. “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 …” (vs. 3b).

- trusts the Lord to lead him as he heads towards the land of Moriah. Acting on God’s promise to show him the right mountain when he gets there, he “set out for the place where God had told him to go.” (vs. 3b). And that’s the way it happened for, “On the third day of the journey, Abraham saw the place in the distance.” (vs. 3c).

- decides that worship will be a central feature in his obedience. “ ‘Stay here with the donkey,’ Abraham told the young men. ‘The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there …(vs. 5).

- proceeds in total dependence on the Lord. Listen to this moving conversation between father and son.

   “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, 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?’
   ‘God will provide a lamb, my son,’ Abraham answered. And they both went on together.” (vs. 6-8).

- passes the test. Abraham was tested to the greatest possible extent. He must have been close to breaking point as he lifted the knife. It was then that the Lord stepped in. “ ‘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.’ 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 the place of his son. Abraham named the place, ‘The LORD will provide.’ ” (vs. 12-14).

- has what he has surrendered to the Lord returned to him. He trusted his best to the Lord in faith. A later commentator writes, “It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, though God had promised him, ‘Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.’ Abraham assumed that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.” (Hebrews 11:17-19).

- is promised much. His descendants will be a channel of God’s blessing to all the world. “… and through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (vs.18).

The way in which Isaac acted in this testing situation is also instructive. He …

- believed that his father knew what he doing. He accepted his father’s answer to his question concerning the whereabouts of the lamb to be sacrificed.

- carried the wood for the burnt offering on his own shoulders. (vs. 6). Just as Jesus carried the cross part of the way to the place where he himself would become the sacrificial lamb. “Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha).” (John 19:16-17).

- stayed close to his father, cooperated with him in what he was doing. “And they both went on together.” (vs. 8).

- remained obedient in the face of death. His struggle at this point must have been as intense as that of Abraham’s. But he did not resist as he was laid on the altar. We are reminded of the battle Jesus fought as the cross cast its shadow over him. It was in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal that Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will not mine. Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” (Luke 22:42-44). While it was not without struggle, Jesus submitted willingly and obediently to his Father’s plan for the redemption of sinful mankind. As he himself said, “No one can take my life from me. I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right to lay it down when I want to and also the power to take it again. For my Father has given me this command.” (John 10:18).

Discipleship and sacrifice are inseparable. Just as Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice on his shoulders and Jesus the wooden cross, so there will always be a cross for the servants of the Lord to bear. “Then he called his disciples and the crowds to come over and listen. ‘If any of you wants to be my follower,’ he told them, ‘you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.’ ” (Mark 8:34-35). The missionary who must make arrangements for children’s schooling and accommodation in a another place, the Christian leader called upon to travel, are called upon to make great sacrifices. Bishop Howell Witt reveals his feelings in this regard. Introducing us to the cost of discipleship with his usual touch of humour, he writes[2] …

Rumour has it that my wife on being asked what it was like having a husband away for seven months of the year, replied that the other five months were the difficult ones, but that’s only rumour. What is fact is that son Andrew, asked whether his father were at home replied, "No, we haven’t got a father any more, only a bishop". And there were times when son David’s greeting, "Hi! Back home eh? When d’you leave us?" touched a sensitive nerve, especially when I discovered at the end of one year that I had been away for every birthday and every anniversary—except my own …

Jesus said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword. I am come to set a man at variance against his father ... He that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." Uncomfortable words you must agree, especially when you remember from whose lips they come. And how was I to know when I made my promise to spend time with my clergy that as their number increased and my time at home diminished, that he was speaking directly to me? That the times would come when, for the sake of God’s family I would often have to say ‘No’, firmly to my own and, even more difficult, when for the sake of the Witt family, I would have to say ‘No’ to God’s.

Witt is quoting from what Jesus taught to the crowds who often gathered around him.

Great crowds were following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, "If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father or mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, more than your own life. Otherwise you cannot be my disciple. And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first getting estimates and then checking to see if there is enough money to pay the bills.’" (Luke 14:25-28).

References That Proved To Be Helpful

[1] The Message. The New Testament In Contemporary Language. pp. 180-181.
[2] Witt, Howell Arthur John. BUSH BISHOP. Adelaide: Rigby. 1979. pp. 131-132.