Promises

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

One of the most dramatic and intense accounts in all of scripture is when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac. It is Abraham’s resurrection faith that enables him to pass this time of testing, serving as an example for us who now place our trust in the resurrection of Christ to experience forgiveness and new life with God. Scripture calls Abraham “the father of faith” and teaches that we can have the same faith he had (Romans 4:16, 23-24; Galatians 3:7).

How did Abraham cultivate this kind of faith? It was the past promises & provision of God that enabled Abraham to have faith for the future.

What promises has God made to you?

Today, we have the full revelation of scripture. There are so many more promises that God has given to you and me. Scripture says that He will never leave us or forsake us. His perfect peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We will have troubles, but Jesus has overcome the world.

What is a scriptural promise, in proper context, that you can use as a faith-builder today?

How do the promises of scripture speak to our fears for the future? What does the Lord say about your concerns?

Envision the altar Abraham built to offer a sacrifice. Picture yourself in his place, handing over your fears to the Lord on the altar.

How can a resurrection faith in Christ enable you to face those fears with Him?

Thank God that He brings dead things back to life.

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. 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.”

Genesis 22:13-14 (NLT)