God Tests Abraham's Faith

It is indeed so easy to worship God, go to church, and praise Him when we have many blessings. When our resources are overflowing, our groceries full on stock, or our wallets stuffed with bills. But, when we are struggling, or dealing with a difficult trial, is it still easy? To give thanks to God, at a time we don't seem to experience any good thing?

This is what we've learned at our Sunday service earlier this morning. What kind of worship pleases God?

Let me share to you what I have taken notes earlier from the words of our speaker, Pastor Ruel.

Story of this week: Genesis 22:1-14

This story is about how God tested Abraham's faith. Some of you may have heard this story kany times, some may just know about it for the first time.

Now, let me ask you. How do you define praise? How about your own meaning of worship? Are these two things the same to you?

We sing praises to God in the church. We offer thanksgiving by praying, dancing along with songs that will praise Him. We also praise Him through our testimonies, and our personal ways. This is wat you should know: Praise and worship are two different things. Praise is just a part of worship.

Praise is praising God and thanking Him for He is good. Worship is serving Him because He is God. We can choose to not praise God, it isn't forced on us. But worship is not like that. We are created by God, and we are supposed to acknowledge Him as our God. That's what worship is. So it is more than just singing and dancing, attending the church every Sunday, or attending fellowships. Worship is all of these things combined, practiced right with the help of our God, the Beginning and the End.

Abraham is a good example of what a real worship is. What kind of worship did he do?

One: He worshipped God with Faith.

It is impossible to give the greatest worship without faith. Faith is trusting God, even when we sometimes don't understand His instructions. There are sometimes things that God want us to do, and it makes us think "Why, of all things, did God ordered me to do this? He knows it's not possible! He knows I can't do it."

In this story, God told Abraham to take his son, Isaac, and make him as the offering to God.

You may think, how ridiculous is that. It would even be added by the fact, that Isaac is the only child of them that time, and his child in his old age. Abraham and Sarah did not expect even having a child, but God made it happen. Now, this is the same God that asks Abraham to offer his only beloved child as a sacrifice.

Despite these circumstances, Abraham did not show any resistance. He had this mindset, "No matter what happens, I'll worship God." So with that, he brought Isaac along with Him, and proceeded completing God's instruction.

If you read some previous chapters, Abraham already has faith in God. This is God's test not to create faith in Abraham, but to reveal his faith, the faith he already has. Is that faith enough? Strong enough that this man would be willing to sacrifice his son just to worship God? Abraham proved it. His faith is fully on God.

Two: He worshipped God with Obedience

Abraham probably felt pain. It may not be written directly, but it might have been hard for him, but he still obeyed God's orders. He walked with faith, not with feelings.

It is a human nature to make excuses when we don't like to do what we've been told to do. White lies, or invented reasons, or even random alibis, just so we can escape the task.

Abraham did not say no to God. Without any complain, nor murmurings. He followed God's instructions.

It's hard to obey God, especially when we can't seem to find any sense nor benefits from what he tells us to do. But when we still do, despite these thoughts, we are doing the right thing. We can just rest in God's hands knowing He knows what's best for us, and He will never forsake us, nor let us down.

Three: He worshipped God with Sacrifice.

Faith us sometimes hard to maintain. Obeying is also difficult, now we even have to sacrifice something?

Yes, worshipping God with a sacrifice can be the hardest one. It is not just about the tithing (which some of us still struggle in), or sacrificing the possible income opportunities we can have if we won't attend the Sunday service, or sacrificing our time and efforts to assist in helping our church.

Have we ever thought about that one important thing we have? A large sum of money? A great-paying job? Let's make it deeper. What about our families? Our beloved child?

Have we already thought of this once? If God would ask you to sacrifice that one thing we value the most like what He did to Abaham, will we submit to His instruction?

That's a really hard question, right? Sacrificing my most precious something? This is too much.

I will just leave this question for you to think about.

I find it interesting how our pastor gave an insight about the story. He said that if it would be elaborated, Isaac could have escaped. Theologists say that in this time, Isaac could be of that age where he has his own will, strong enough to run from his father, and save his life. In this story, take note, too, that Abraham is already old, and that if Isaac resisted, his father would be weak to even run after his son.

It could be said that Isaac may have been aware of the fact that he'd be the sacrifice. It can be proved if you read tge part where he asked his father when he noticed there is no lamb to sacrifice. If we are Isaac, what could we have done?

Isn't it interesting? To know that Isaac had a chance to escape, but he did not also show any resistance? At that time he was tied by his own father, he did not fight?

Now, this is what we should know. Sacrifice completes our faith. We can't show our dedicated worship without the willingness to let go of what's precious to us, because we know that God has a better way.

Final Thoughts

I know a lots of questions have been asked, but let me still conclude this one with another question:

Have we given the best to God?

Have we worshipped Him with the right faith, complete obedience, and that willingness to sacrifice what we value?

I know it's hard, but there was a man who made this kind of worship possible. He is Abraham, and he is a reminder to us, that we can have this kind of worship. It's hard, but it's possible.

In the end, God stopped Abraham from killing his son. And from somewhere there, He provided something for Abraham to use as offering instead.

We maybe in times right now, where our faith is tested. And we may find God's instructions kinda hard to understand. I hope that we'll remember Abraham's story, how he just passed the test, and how God rewarded his faith.

We know that Abraham became the Father of All Nations, someone that is still known today, as an example of the man with the faith that pleased God.

When we give the best, what we lost will be tripled by God. He will even give us what we don't expect. If we prioritize Him, it would be opportunities that will run after us. We have God the Almighty with us.

A blessed Sunday, everyone. May God be the center of our lives.

Until Next Time!