ANSWERING THE FIRST CALL -- Monday:
"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am." (Genesis 22:1)
There are souls sensitive enough to God to respond the first time they are called. Abraham was such a person–and he lived prior to any extensive dealings of God with humanity. Prior to him, Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice to God by faith (Heb 11:4). During the days of Enos, son of Seth, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26). Enoch walked with God (Gen 5:22-24). Noah built an ark to the saving of his house (Heb 11:7). Keep in mind that until the time of Abraham, this represented Divine dealings with men over a period of nearly 2,000 years! Abraham did not live in a time of extensive revelation, advanced spiritual culture, or prolonged exposure to the God of heaven. Yet, his response to the Living God dwarfs the responses common in our day.
In the text under consideration, God called to Abraham one time, and Abraham responded alertly and attentively. At the time, Abraham was well over 100, and Isaac was a young man. According to Ussher's chronology, it had been approximately 70 years since God first called him (Gen 12), and around 30 years since Isaac was born. Yet, when God called Abraham by name, he instantly responded "Behold, here I am." Over the years–his elderly years–his sensitivity had not waned. In fact, it appears to have grown even more keen. As you must know, that is a characteristic rarely found among those professing to be Christians for many years. But it was not so with our father Abraham. He answered the first call!
On this particular occasion, God was testing Abraham's faith. His words to Abraham were short, clear, and arresting. "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Gen 22:2). How will an aged father who had come to dearly love his son of promise respond to a commandment like that? That is certainly not a question you want to ask a psychiatrist or religious counselor! Neither of them are specialists in faith. But we will see the nature of faith in the response of our father Abraham.
Not only does faith answer the first time, it also goes about to do the will of the Lord immediately. Although extensive preparation was required, the Scripture affirms, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him" (Gen 22:3). There is faith at work, and how marvelous it is! The Lord's instructions did not say the sacrifice was to be made the next day. But Abraham knew the Word of the Lord is not to be ignored or obedience postponed. He not only got up the next day, but "rose up EARLY." That, of course, is how faith works.
Reasoning that God was going to raise Isaac, through whom the promised Seed would come, from the dead (Heb 11:19), Abraham prepared for the sacrifice. He "split the wood for the burnt offering" (NKJV), which must have been a sizable amount of wood. This was not a turtle dove Abraham was offering, but a grown young man. The sacrifice was to be consumed by fire, requiring much wood. And Abraham cut it himself–early in the morning.
Later, when Isaac was bound and laying on the altar, the sensitivity of Abraham again surfaced. As he raised the knife to plunge it into Isaac, an angel called out to him from heaven. "Abraham, Abraham!" Although he was engaged in a most challenging task, he still responded instantly. "Here am I!" It was then that the angel said he knew Abraham feared God, not withholding his only son from Him. Abraham was then directed to a suitable substitute sacrifice, a ram hung in the thicket by his horns. Scripture records, "Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son" (Gen 22:13).
All of this accentuates the value of a sensitive heart, and how it brings great glory to God. It may be that you are being tested by the Lord. We know that such things do occur for the children of the Lord. The value of such tests will largely be determined by how quickly we respond to the Lord. Abraham always responded the first time he was called, and he was blessed for doing so.
How do you respond? How long does it take for the Lord to get your attention? There is no need for it to be a long and profitless time. You can have an instant response like Abraham did, for his response was the expression of faith. Seek to answer like he did.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I desire to be noted in heaven for instantly responding to Your call, Your word, and Your direction. I ask that you honor my desire through Jesus Christ.