THE ABRAHMIC LIFESTYLE 4

The Gift or the Giver

After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward – Gen 15:1

The life of Abraham is that which portrayed a life of absolute dependence upon God. When God declared Himself as Abraham’s shield and reward, we would have expected him to jump up and profusely thank God for such an awesome offer. Instead, Abraham did a contrary thing. His response indicated that something else was more important to Him: the issue of an heir (Gen 15:2).

If we were given the opportunity to judge Abraham’s reaction, many of us would have said “How can an heir be more important to him than God?”. Though Abraham spoke his mind and was very human in this regard, God did not rebuke him. Rather He (God) reaffirmed his promise to him that he would indeed have an heir from his own loins (Gen 5:2 – 5).

When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son (Gen 22), we were able to know who was more important to Abraham: the gift or the giver.  The birth of Isaac was very important. The fullness of the promise settled upon him. To sacrifice him was to sacrifice the covenant word of God. Heb 11: 17 – 19 paints a picture of the agony that Abraham felt at the costliness of this demand. The man proved his loyalty to God. He chose the Giver in place of the gift.

Today, Isaac can stand for many things in our lives. He represents many gifts of God’s grace. Before God gives, our hands are empty. Afterward, they become full and when God reaches out His hand to take ours in fellowship, we no longer have empty hands to put into His. Because we have received His gifts and are nursing them, our hands are full. We begin to dwell on the gifts at the neglect of the Giver.

Many have earnestly sought the face of God for jobs, marriages, career, etc but when these blessings come, they become hindrances to worshipping and fellowshipping with God. It’s a common thing to hear brothers and sisters giving jobs as excuse for being far away from church activities.

Are you guilty of this? Repent today! Remember that it was after Abraham’s obedience to the sacrifice of his son that God swore by himself to bless him. Nothing in our life should be more important than God. May the Lord grant us the grace to make Him our utmost priority everyday of our lives.

THE ABRAHAMIC LIFESTYLE 3

The Man Who Attempted To Help God

And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren – Gen 16:17

At the age of eighty five years after which Abraham had dwelt in the land (Canaan) for ten years, he felt it was time his son arrived. In his desperation, he heeded Sarah’s advice and went in unto Hagar who bore him a son, Ishmael. Abraham believed it was time to help God.

This man ought to have known that the issue of a son was a deep one. He failed to understand that what was important was from whom the son came, and who gave him. God does not only want the right things done, He wants us to be the vessel of the right things that He is doing.

All Abraham got for his effort was Ishmael. Of him the Scriptures says “…he will be a wild man”. As a result, the world is still suffering from this wrong advice Abraham accepted. You and I know the destruction upon destruction that the descendants of Ishmael are still unleashing upon humanity till date. Perhaps you don't even know who his descendants are.

Are we found in the same situation like Abraham? What wrong advice is the Enemy offering you today? Anything done or received outside God amounts to helping God. And God cannot be helped by mere dust: man (Ps 103:14). The devices of the Enemy are many but we must not be ignorant of them. We need to guard ourselves against sinful suggestions. We must never allow ourselves to be cajoled into doing anything that does not originate from God; no matter how beautiful it may seem. 

Are you experiencing marital delay and friends are beginning to suggest a spouse to you? Or are you still jobless after so many years of searching and friends are pointing you to a “cloudy” money spinning business? Watch out! That spouse or business could be another Ishmael in making. “Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal 6:7).

May the Lord grant us the grace to wait upon Him for everything.