Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Sometimes God will put you in a difficult position—not to test your faith but to reveal it.

In the middle of a game, you might have to make a move that’s not recommended, but if you don’t take the risk, there’s no chance of victory. I played the game Risk for the first time over New Year’s. The goal of the game is to strategically take over the world. In the middle of the game, I made an ally. But then another player forced my ally to betray me and take me out so that someone would gain victory. While betrayal is part of this board game (and not something I would have recommended), this risk led to victory. In the same way, sometimes we need to take a risk with God for victory in life.

This is the experience Abraham had with his son Isaac. God told him to take the risk and sacrifice the very son God promised to him on the altar. This is not something that Abraham would have chosen, but he trusted that God would somehow provide. Abraham knew God and trusted him first, so he was able to tell his son that God would provide.

Genesis 22:8
“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

When they got to the mountain, there was no animal to sacrifice. In obedience, Abraham began to prepare for the sacrifice of his son.

God intervened.

He told Abraham not to continue, because Isaac was not meant to be the sacrifice. At that moment, there was a ram stuck in the thickets. God provided the sacrifice, revealing the faith that Abraham had in God.

Genesis 22:13-14
¹³ Then 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. ¹⁴ Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

We gain victory in God by knowing who he is. Significant moments in the Bible were marked by giving them names to recognize the win in God. It is why Abraham named the place, Yahweh-Yireh (Jehovah Jireh is another way of saying it). It means the Lord will provide. Abraham won with God by trusting in who he is.

Abraham’s faith brought out the greatest victory, because if he had faltered, the story of the Bible might have been told differently as Jesus is a descendant of Isaac (Matthew 1:1-16). That moment of trust on Abraham’s part birthed a nation that would eventually lead to the Messiah, the real sacrificial son. God knew what he was doing at that moment to reveal Abraham’s faith.

Abraham was confident in God’s name, Jehovah Jireh—the Lord provides, and he won.

God knows what he is doing in your life today to reveal your faith. Like Abraham, it is important to remember God's name to claim victory.

Questions:
Do you know God by name?

What is one area of your life in which you are winning?

Is there a choice God is calling you to make even if you don’t prefer it?

Next Steps:
Mark a moment of victory by naming it. Write it down or make a post on social media.

Here are some names of God with the Hebrew translation. Choose one that resonates with you and use it in a prayer thanking God for his goodness.

• Father: Abba
• The Beginning and End: Alpha and Omega
• The Ancient of Days: Attiyq Youm
• The Anointed One: Christos
• The God Who Gave You Birth: El Chuwl
• The God of Knowledge: El Deah
• The God Most High: El Elyon
• The Everlasting God: El Olam

Think of one step you can take even if it wouldn’t have been your first choice.

• Tithe
• Serve
• Ask God to reveal your faith

21 Days of Prayer

Day 9 Prayer Focus - To Live Confidently (1 John 4:16-17)
Father in heaven, thank you for loving me. I know I can trust you with all I am. I am confident in the salvation you have given me. Help me to abide in you, to become more like your Son every day. Show me how to live like him, according to your will, and working for your kingdom in all I do. May my love for you and others be perfected through your love for me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Parent Prayer

This post was written by Becca Roberts, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut.