Trust and Obey

Trust and Obey

Abraham Trusted and obeyed God. In Genesis chapter 22 we read “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. 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.” (Genesis 22:1-2 KJV)

Can you imagine hearing take your only son and offer him for a burnt sacrifice? Maybe you might have thought, “Is this of God?” But Abraham knew the voice of God after all God had told him he would have a son born of Sarah and he did. Trust had been founded after many years. So Abraham did not hesitate when God spoke. We see how Abraham reacted in the following verses, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” (Genesis 22:3-5 KJV)

Abraham went and when he arrived he told the others, “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” That is faith. God told him to offer up his son as a burnt sacrifice. I don’t know about you but burnt is no longer living to me. Why did he have so much faith that he and the lad would go and worship and return?

Hebrews chapter 11 tells us of the great faith in God’s believers. Here is recorded the answer of Abraham’s faith, “Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.” (Hebrews 11:18-19 KJV) Abraham believed God. He believed His promises and that out of Isaac many generations would come forth and therefore if he offered Isaac up as a burnt sacrifice He would have to bring him back to life to fulfil His promise. That’s trusting and obeying God. (Also see Hebrews 11:8-19; Romans 4:17, 19, 21; and Genesis 21:12, 15 and 17).

Has God spoken to you through prayer, Bible reading, another Christian or circumstances? Sometimes God has to get your attention in order to active your faith and then you will have to make a decision should I say, be, go or do what God is telling? After you have obeyed God and see the outcome you will trust Him because He is your loving Father and love works no ill. Look at what Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:” (Job 13:15 KJV) Job went through something well a whole lot more then something. He lost everything he had but God restored it twofold to him.

Jesus said “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) We find love in trusting and obeying God. We also find hope and our faith is strengthened. Is this why Faith, hope and love abide in us? (1 Corinthians 13:13).It takes a small step of faith to begin to trust and obey but it can grow into a lifestyle in which we will find true joy. Follow these scriptures.

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23 KJV)

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21 KJV)

By whom [Jesus] also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:2-5 KJV)

When we trust and obey God it will produce hope and the Holy Spirit will shed God’s love aboard through us and in the end we will hear, our Lord say to us “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21 KJV)

Enter into the Joy of the Lord. We can walk in it today and in the world to come. Trust and obey.

In Christ,

Greg