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Genesis 22:15-18

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

At the heart of God’s program of blessing is sacrifice, and although that may seem the way of failure, in God’s marvelous dealings it is the way of victory.

Allen Ross, Creation and Blessing

God’s pathway to victory is seldom as easy as a stroll down a country lane on a beautiful day. Rather it’s a journey of twists and turns, steep hills and sharp declines, clouds, wind, rain, sleet, and snow. It is not uncommon for us to lose our footing on such terrain. And certainly, we will not reach the end unscathed, but we will reach the end just as he promised, albeit with wounds that are still open and scars to remind us where the wounds have been.

Abraham, the great man of faith, was called into an unknown future with an unknown destination; lived a good part of his life with the promise of a son…but only a promise; tried to shortcut God’s plan by taking matters into his own hands with his wife’s maidservant; experienced the grief of sending Ishmael from his presence; and finally was put to the greatest test of his life as God sought to learn, in an austere way, the extent of Abraham’s obedience.

Our passage today proclaims victory for Abraham but not before this man of faith was stretched to the very limit; not before he followed God’s unbelievable call; not before he prepared to sacrifice his son. Ross says it well: At the heart of God’s program of blessing is sacrifice, and although that may seem the way of failure, in God’s marvelous dealings it is the way of victory. There is a blessing on the other side of sacrifice. So, here’s the question: What’s the sacrifice standing between you and God’s blessing?

Father, open our eyes to see that thing which stands in the way, that thing which separates us from your intended blessing. For Christ’s sake, may we relent. Amen.

This Week on The Journey:

1 and 2 Samuel