“This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:16-18)
AS ABRAHAM and Isaac headed up the mountain, before Abraham knew how God would intervene, he assured his son that God would provide the sacrifice. And sure enough, God provided a lamb: “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the LORD will provide’)” (Genesis 22:13-14). A more literal translation of the Hebrew expression Yahweh-Yireh would be “the Lord will see to it.”
The Lord expects a lot from those who claim to trust Him. The rigors and risk of faith must be daunting, or else it isn’t really faith. But God isn’t merely fair; He delights to surprise us by exceeding our expectations. He rewards risky faith with blessings beyond our ability to guess.
Such was the case for Abraham. As for his descendants, they are truly innumerable. And to this day, God preserves His people, Israel, with great plans for their future. Why? Because the Lord keeps His promises, and in doing so, He exceeds our expectations.
REFLECT
In what ways has God provided for you beyond your expectations? In what situations are you trusting Him to provide right now?
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Content taken from FAITH FOR THE JOURNEY , by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2014. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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