WRESTLING WITH GOD: ABRAHAM
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Wrestling with God
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. Abraham
a) Obedience to God is a very important part of clinging to God. In Genesis chapter 22 we are told that God tested Abraham to see if Abraham would be willing to sacrifice his only son in obedience to God’s command. Abraham rose up early the next morning and began the journey with his son Isaac to the place God had told him to go. The journey took three days. What would those three days have been like for Abraham? But Abraham faithfully obeyed God and in the end God provided another sacrifice instead of Isaac. At the end of the trial Abraham was ready to receive the blessing from God.
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Gen 22:15-18 NIV)
b) The greater the sacrifice that we go through and endure by clinging to God, the greater our blessing will be.
The End ...
1. Wrestling with God Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. Abraham
a) Obedience to God is a very important part of clinging to God. In Genesis chapter 22 we are told that God tested Abraham to see if Abraham would be willing to sacrifice his only son in obedience to God’s command. Abraham rose up early the next morning and began the journey with his son Isaac to the place God had told him to go. The journey took three days. What would those three days have been like for Abraham? But Abraham faithfully obeyed God and in the end God provided another sacrifice instead of Isaac. At the end of the trial Abraham was ready to receive the blessing from God.
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Gen 22:15-18 NIV)
b) The greater the sacrifice that we go through and endure by clinging to God, the greater our blessing will be.
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