FAITH CAPSULE: Many words will no doubt cause trouble.
Genesis 22
God called and spoke to Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” (Genesis 22:2) Abraham’s only son, whom he loves, was requested for as burnt offering by the One that was and that is in position to give and to take away as He pleases. Without questioning God, Abraham engaged his calling to sacrifice his son. As if it was not challenging enough to respond to God’s command for sacrifice, the journey to the center of sacrifice (the land of Moriah) was three days. Imagine how nagging it must have been in the mind of Abraham for not knowing the exact location and having to travel for three days. The bible recorded, “Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.” (Genesis 22:4) It must have been the longest three days of his life and yet there was no record of complaint. With complaint, Abraham could have made it the longest three day journey. Abraham kept quiet and kept the journey short. The Israelites’ could not keep quiet to keep their journey short. The Israelites Complaint converted eleven days journey to forty years journey. The book of Deuteronomy 1:2-3 testified, “It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord had given him as commandments to them.”
Eleven days journey turned out to be forty years journey because the Israelites could not resist from complaint against God’s ordained journey. Many words will no doubt cause trouble. The Bible discourages many words when it commanded. “…let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (James 1:19) Abraham kept his cool and focused on God’s command. It must have been difficult and challenging journey for him yet he kept on going through without complaint. Abraham, free of complaint, relegated distraction and elevated his focus on God. He gave a reasonable sacrifice unto God. By virtue of his commitment, God declared him as one who feared Him. Abraham released Isaac unto God in each step of his response. He demonstrated that he loved God with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his strength. There is a beginning and an end when a call of sacrifice comes our way. It has to be carried out to the end. Obedience does not require a half heart; it requires whole heart (to wholly follow God’s command).
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace of total obedience to His word.