What does obedience to God’s voice bring into your life? The story of Genesis 20 continues to reveal some concepts of this.
God himself gave the sacrifice he had asked Abraham to give. God saw to it. Abraham’s part was obedience.
Genesis 20 to Chapter 30
Link to the Online Bible to read Genesis 20-30 is here.
We struggle with the obedience because we keep thinking of ourselves. What it means for us, how hard it is, what we lose, the difficulty. Abraham ‘lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off’. (Gen 22:4).
Abraham and the Spiritual Activity
This whole chapter is a preview of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. God himself provided the sacrifice for all. Twice angels came to speak to Abraham. Angels were all over the time of Christ. Spiritual activity at a premium.
And what comes out of it for Abraham? The blessing was reaffirmed and elaborated:
‘And they seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed: BECAUSE THOU HAST OBEYED MY VOICE’. (Gen 22:17+18)
So the seed coming to bless the whole earth is Christ. Paul tells us this in his letters.
The Promise Unfolds in Isaac
But watch this promise in Isaac.
Genesis 24 is a stunning display of what God does in the area of marriage, in the area of his ways. It’s so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes.
This servant of Abraham that so loves his master, and honours the God of his master. How God chooses the bride. And the bride’s family bless her on her way with:
‘Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let THY SEED POSSESS THE GATE OF THOSE WHICH HATE THEM’ (Gen 24:60)
How can it be that these people, in a different nation, far away from what is happening to Abraham, prophesy the same words in agreement with what God had said to Abraham about his seed, about the generations that will come through Isaac?
How do the things of God work?
How important is obedience?
What will our life look like when we walk in that obedience? In that prophetic? In those promises? In that expectation?
I love the servant of Abraham, what a lovely man:
‘And the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth:…..’ (24:27)
This whole chapter is a display of how the kingdom of God works. It’s stunningly beautiful.
Why, oh why, do we settle for an ordinary life?
Let’s live by these examples and be witnesses of God.
