THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE

TEXT: GEN. 22: 1-8

INTRODUCTION
Scholars have suggested various views as to the main intention of this text. Some believe it is a polemic against child sacrifice. So God told Abraham to use an animal instead of his son. However, this theory does not take into consideration the fact that God Himself told Abraham to offer Isaac in the first place.

Others think that the primary purpose is to emphasize the importance of obedience to God, and this is certainly a significant point in this. In Genesis Chapter 2-3 there was curse due to man’s DISOBEDIENCE, and Chapter 12-50 is the details of how God planned to reverse the curse through Abraham’s DISOBEDIENCE.

GOD’S PRIMARY GOAL IN CALLING AND COMMANDING ABRAHAM
A. To test his faith in God’s purposes and promises.
1. Abraham’s call in Ur and Haran (Gen. 11:31; cf Acts 7:2-4. He had to give up his country, kindred and his father’s house.
2. In Gerar (Gen. 20: 10-14): He had to give up his concubine Hagar and his son Ishmael.
3. Now he is to give up Isaac, his only son by Sarah (Gen. 22:1-19)

B. To discover how firm was this man’s faith in the ultimate divine purpose.
1. Abraham had to cut himself off from his entire past when he left his homeland and now is summoned to give up his entire future.
2. It was one thing to start resolutely for the Promised Land, but it was again a different thing to maintain confidence in the promise when all appeared lost.
3. Abraham had to project his faith far into the future.

GOD”S TEST OF ABRAHAM (GEN. 22:1-19)
A. The Hebrew word ‘nissah’ means ‘to put to test.’ God may with good motives allow one to be tested, but will never place inducement before one to lead into temptation ( 1 Cor 10:13). His ultimate motive is what is good and not what is evil.
B. The test to go a long journey and perform- Vss 1-9
1. The journey of about 50miles/80km took him three days.
2. “ Land of Moriah”, a place of many mountains- one of the hills on which Jerusalem now stands ( possibly the temple hill itself- 2Chron. 3:1).
3. Without hesitation, Abraham obeys God’s commands; he has lost one child and now to loose another child.
4. Abraham himself had his faith exercised and developed while learning a new lesson that God will provide.
5. His faith was that same God who had given Isaac to both of them could certainly provide a ram for the burnt offering.
6. He made a detailed preparation because this he had frequently done it elsewhere (cf Gen. 12:7-8; 13:4,18)
C. Obedience resulted in God-fearing- Vss10-19
1. ‘The angel of the Lord’ is the Lord himself as the context shows (vs 12, 14,16-18; cf Gen 18:2,22; Gne. 19:1)
2. An anthropomorphic statement; God speaks as if He were human ‘now I know’ doesn’t mean God does not know all things.
3. The swearing of God Himself is to express his most solemn promise.
4. He promised to bless Abraham as He said, because he had obeyed His voice.
5. The divine intention of God also included the presentation to the world of a genuine God-fearing patriarch for whom obedience was the rule of conduct (vrs 18), and gave foreshadowing of the divine sacrifice to be made by the heavenly Father and His only Son.
6. Really, God has sacrificed His only begotten Son, which is more meaningful than that of Abraham.

LESSONS TO LEARN
A. Obedience must exclude hesitation.
B. Faith must work alongside obedience.
C. Ultimate obedience results in God-fearing attitude.
D. Abraham allowed his faith to be tested.
E. God test to strengthen and enlarge believer’s faith.


CONCLUSION
God keeps His promises when we obey His voice and follow His commands. Therefore, we should have faith in whatever we hear and do so that God bless us in abundance. Lets be very much aware that our faith can also be tested by this same God of Abraham. So let’s try hard to pass when it comes to our turn.

LOVE FOR THE DEAF

Thanks be to God for granting us another week. Its a pleasure to have you read this portion concerning the love we all should exhibit towards deaf people around us. Note and share the following points.

1. Even though they are disabled, they are human beings like us.

2. They were born by mothers like our own mothers.

3. They grow like we grow as human beings.

4. They can secure jobs and work as the same as able persons.

5. They can contract marriage through traditional or ordinance law.

6. They can worship God like any other able person.

7. They can communicate to us in many ways namely: writing, signing, texting messages through phones, etc.

8. They can become Ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

9. They can dance to a music, watch films and understand them, and sing too.

10. They can cast their votes perfectly during national elections.


DEAF MINISTRY
I started deaf ministry in the year 2006. I started with two deah people and as at now, their number has been increased to thirty-one. I am both a signer and interpreter.

From my experience, deaf people are lovely, curious, neat, kind, hardworkers and teachable- if only they are handled with knowledge and proper care. I thank God so much that I am endowed with deep knowledge about deaf people.

Early next year January 2009, Two deaf instructors/ interpreters and I are going to innaugurate Deaf Association in my municipality joined with other two Districts at my area in Ghana.

We aim to find them jobs, provide them with good education, educate their parents concerning their responsibilities towards their deaf children, educate society on who deaf people are, what they can do to contribute toward the growth of their society.

My dear readers, I wish you understand and show love to the deaf as I am, an your bleesings will come in abundance.

Do you have any deaf person around you? I love him/her very much. Let him/her have access to my blog: http://helpingstone-ebenezer.blogspot.com/ and my e-mail: korsaheben@yahoo.com or ebenkosee@gmail.com

Come 24th-28th December, 2008, we are attending Deaf Bilble Camp. The outcome will be brought to you. Hope to meet again next Week. God bless you for reading. You can send Questions and contributions.