Abraham's Fear of God
We hear people talk about fearing God, but do we really know what that means? It does not mean to simply be afraid of God. Yes, we should be afraid of God when we sin, because He could do great harm to us as our punishment. However, the word is used to mean having great honor and respect for God because of His power and holiness. If we have the fear of God, we will do whatever He tells us to do and refrain from doing what He says not to do. Abraham showed his great fear of God, when the Lord asked him to sacrifice the son of the covenant, Isaac, as a burnt offering to the Lord. (Genesis 22:12) We can all learn a lesson from this.
How many of us would kill our child at the command of God? It would be so difficult to obey that command, because it even seems to go against God's nature and His Word. I think most of us would argue with God over this, and try everything we could to change His mind. However, Abraham rose early the next morning with no complaining, and left for the place God told him to do the sacrifice. He was seemingly calm about it, when he left his servants with the animals and set out with Isaac on foot. He told the men that he and Isaac would return. I do not think he was lying. I believe that he thought that if he had to kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19) Why would he believe that? Because God had promised to make a great nation through Isaac. Therefore, Abraham's fear of God was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice his son and to believe that God would raise him up from the dead. That is great faith, and a great fear of God.
Also, we see that God was not against seeing His Son killed, if that was what was needed to pay for our sins. Also, He did raise His Son from the dead. That is what makes the story of Abraham and Isaac even more amazing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 24-26.
How many of us would kill our child at the command of God? It would be so difficult to obey that command, because it even seems to go against God's nature and His Word. I think most of us would argue with God over this, and try everything we could to change His mind. However, Abraham rose early the next morning with no complaining, and left for the place God told him to do the sacrifice. He was seemingly calm about it, when he left his servants with the animals and set out with Isaac on foot. He told the men that he and Isaac would return. I do not think he was lying. I believe that he thought that if he had to kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19) Why would he believe that? Because God had promised to make a great nation through Isaac. Therefore, Abraham's fear of God was so strong that he was willing to sacrifice his son and to believe that God would raise him up from the dead. That is great faith, and a great fear of God.
Also, we see that God was not against seeing His Son killed, if that was what was needed to pay for our sins. Also, He did raise His Son from the dead. That is what makes the story of Abraham and Isaac even more amazing.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 24-26.