The word yes is a very powerful word when you think about it. A yes answer can literally change the direction of your life! Marriage, mortgage, job… a yes to Jesus and to His calling…
Let’s consider for a few moments a man who said YES!
In Genesis 22: 1 – 18, we read an incredible story. Abraham is a towering figure in biblical and world history. God chose Abraham to receive a unique revelation of Himself and gave him a series of stunning covenant promises. Abraham was known as God’s friend (James 2: 23). But in Genesis 22 God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son!
Why did God need to test Abraham? Had he not proved himself, had he not been through enough? Abraham had left for an unknown land in Genesis 12, he was then given the promise of a son at the age of 75 and had to wait 25 years for it to be fulfilled, never mind the other challenges that came his way, looking after Lot, Hagar and Ishmael, Sodom and Gomorrah, and his dealings with Abimelek. Yet God still needed to work in Abraham.
Sometimes in life, we can think we have had enough, yet God has more He wants to do in our lives! The same God who leads us into victory, who leads us into green pastures, who leads us in life will also lead us into testing at times.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom 8:29) God uses testing to refine us, to shape us, to make us more like His Son Jesus.
Have you ever thought about how you would respond to God’s request to Abraham?
You want me to do what? Sacrifice my son???
What would you have said? – ‘But God, one of the Ten Commandments says do not murder, is this not a conflict of interest?’
Or would you have gone to a friend exclaiming, ‘wait till you hear what God asked me to do?’
Abraham could have said: God did You say sin or son? Or, God, you promised that I would have numerous decedents through Isaac? What will people think of me sacrificing my son?
Yet not Abraham, unquestionably and immediately, early the next morning, not thinking through the consequences because it was God, went to do what God asked, to sacrifice his son.
Why? Because I believe Abraham had become so acquainted with God that he expected God to come through because God couldn’t go against what He had already said to Abraham. That through Isaac Abraham’s offspring would come!
How could Abraham be so quick to act on sacrificing His son? Because he was quick to believe that God would do something amazing!
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death (Heb 11:17-19 NIV)
Abraham being so acquainted and intimate with God, believed surely He could bring Isaac back from the dead, bearing in mind that no one had ever been raised from the dead before!
Abraham had a bigger perspective! He already knew God was faithful, how could He stop being faithful! He said YES to God because he knew God is always faithful.
So what will your answer be when God asks?
Heavenly Father, help me to always say yes to You, no matter the cost, knowing that You are so faithful, true, loving and kind. Drive fear away from me and fill me with great faith in You. Lord, You can do all things, and I trust You. Amen