Daily Devotion, February 22, 2023

 

Devotion:

Read Genesis 22:1-18.

This week, we are focusing on times of testing, when we confront what we really believe and how we will live our life. Today is Ash Wednesday; remembering we are finite beings, hearing the call to repent and believe the gospel. Today begins the forty days (not counting Sundays) of the Season of Lent. This is a time of prayer, self-denial, penitence and service unto others. It is a season to look at what we say we believe and how we live our lives.

Abraham was known for his great faith in God. We meet him first as Abram in Genesis 11. Prior to today’s reading, Abraham had proved himself faithful unto God in previous situations.  The New International Version titles this passage “Abraham Tested.”

Any “test” causes a bit of anxiety, but to be tested by God and particularly this test which Abraham was facing surely created anxiety and fears beyond our imagination! We can breathe knowing the outcome! God provided the sacrifice! (Can you imagine Sarah’s reaction when they told her the story?)

Today’s passage is an important turning point in the Hebrew and Christian faith about God’s covenant relationship with humankind. During Abraham’s time, people believed the “gods” required child sacrifices. Here in God’s provision, Abraham could know without a doubt that the living God he had worshiped all of his life did not require child sacrifices! Abraham shifts the spotlight and gives the credit to God’s faithfulness, as he names the place, “Jehovahjireh”, or “The Lord Will Provide.” And now God knew the depth of Abraham’s trust and loyalty.

God’s testing isn’t from a motive to see us fail, but from a way of proving the strength and faithfulness God has placed in us throughout our lives. I like the way “testing” is described in I Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  Peter understood this in that he denied Christ, (he failed the test) and yet God forgave him and called him to service again!

Personal Worship Option:

With God’s love, grace, help and hope, we can look honestly to see if what we say we believe is consistent with the way we live our lives. Amen.