WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 4 OF 8

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 4 OF 8

TO REVEAL TO US WHAT WE REALLY LOVE

GENESIS 22: 1,2

By Otto Adolph Stemler (1872–1953) 

 

   1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham:  and he said, Behold, here I am.

   2) And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

COMMENTARY

   When your best friend calls you on the phone, you are quick to answer.  When they are a trusted and true friend with your best interest at heart, but this call asks you to sacrifice for them, do you hesitate?  An example is that they ask you to go into debt for them, or take their children to raise as your own but don't give a time limit.  How do you answer?  God had proven a trusted and true friend to Abraham, so he was quick to answer.  He had asked Abraham to do things that were uncomfortable, but had always proven to be a blessing to Abraham.

   Following the story of Abraham, have you not read that God told him for nine years that he would have a son?  When he was 99 years old, God told him that his seed would be as many as the dust of the earth.  Read all about His promise to Abraham about his seed beginning in Genesis 12.)

  Then, in chapter 21, Abraham's first born son that he had with his wife's Egyptian bondwoman was sent away from him: 

9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

10) Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11) And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12) And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

   God had repeated so many times to Abraham that Isaac would be the seed of promise.    Now, God was asking Abraham to kill his own son, who he loved with every fiber of his being.  Since God had proven to Abraham that he could trust Him, Abraham did not hesitate to comply with His latest request.  Abraham had no other history about what God would do except his own personal experiences.  Beginning with Abraham, we learn about God and how to trust Him.

   We go through trials and temptations with things or people we love with every fiber of our beings.  Have you buried your family member?  Have you lost all of your priceless possessions that can never be replaced?  How did you respond?  Here, God is showing Abraham that he loved God more than anything/anyone He has created.  He is also showing Abraham how much he trusts God's Word.  Let us also believe that God is able, no matter what He allows into our lives.   Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not stumble.

   When asked to give up the one/one thing you love, how will you respond?  My Mama always said that if you love something or someone too much, you will lose them.  Wise words, for sure.   You don't want to place anyone or anything above your love for God.

   What about you?  Are you one of Abraham's seed (a child of faith)?  Have you accepted the life-saving gift of salvation?  Click here to learn more:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

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