Hard Things

Gen. 22:1-18

It must be the hardest thing Abraham did. He did many things that were hard, leaving home in Ur of the Chaldeas was most likely hard. Letting Lot take the best of the land was probably hard. Going to battle against the five kings by himself was no doubt hard. Sending away Ishmael was definitely hard. Now, the hardest thing of all: Killing his only begotten son, the son of his old age, and offering up to God as a sacrifice. I must either love God very little, or love other things very much when in disobedience I cling to things of this world (Matt. 6:24).

God blessed Abraham in blessing, and multiplyed him in multiplying. He was truly doubly blessed. It has been the same with those who've gone after Abraham. "Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;" I am suffering defeat at the gate my enemies. I am not reaching souls and snatching them from those gates. I think about the false religions and the churches they have built while sending souls to hell. We could use a new church, more space, more modern, less repairs, etc. We aren't possessing the gates of our enemies. In a very literal sense we could experience this blessing.

My seed is not the physical seed, nor was Abrahams. "And in they seed shall all the nations of thearth be blessed." God was speaking of Jesus Christ, that spiritual seed. My seed would also be that spiritual seed. Those who I win to Christ, but what of the things I can not keep am I willing to sacrifice so that I might gain those things that I can not lose? Show me, Oh Lord God my Father in heaven, and cleanse me.