This was the message close from Church this morning. We can go about our days and try and try, but fail over and over again. Why does that happen? Simply put, things are not in the right order. God should be first and our ever present help in time of need. We are weak and He should be our strength. Everything is better with His help. Why, do you ask? Simply put, He knows each and everyone of us down to the core more than we know ourselves. On top of that, He knows everyone around us and everything. He sees the beginning, middle, and end all at once and knows what is best for all of us. What a mighty God we serve.
How do we know God will provide?
There are countless stories of God’s provision when believers humbled themselves and followed God’s plan. One mentioned today was Abram and Sarai. They were patient for 10 years waiting for God’s promise to come to pass. At the 10 year mark, he was 85 and she was 75 years old. In other words, a promise was given, 10 years went by, no promise fulfilled. Is God going to deliver? Not yet. Will He ever deliver? They didn’t wait to find out. Sarai took initiative of getting to the promise by providing Hagar to bear a child for them. Our pastor pointed out Abram listened to Sarai just like Adam listened to Eve in the garden. Another 14 years after this disobedience, God still delivered on His promise and Sarai had a son.
Who is God?
God is a loving Father and keeper of His word and promise to us. We may ask for something and not get it right then. Other times we will get it quickly. There are trials and waiting periods to prepare us for receiving the promises given to us. God will always remember you and His promise to you. Abram was given a promise he had to wait for. In the waiting period, he screwed up. He did what he wasn’t supposed to do, which was listening to his wife and not God. He learned from his mistake as we will learn later when he is sent to sacrifice his only son, the promised one. Abraham finally receives his promised son and is told to sacrifice him. Abraham disobeyed God before and didn’t want to do that again.
How did he obey so easily?
He knew the meaning of his sons names given to them by God. His son, Ishmael, was birthed from Hagar. The name Ishmael means disobedience, which is what God told Hagar to name the boy. Sarah later gave birth to Isaac. The name Isaac means obedience, which is what God told Abraham. Therefore, Abraham knew what had happened when he disobeyed. Ishmael became the chaos in our world while Isaac became the peaceful side of our world. Abraham learning from his disobedience brought a link to God sacrificing His only begotten son for us and our sins. Therefore, his obedience set the stage for us all.
How did that happen?
We go back to God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son on an altar at a given place. Abraham prepared for the sacrifice, minus the lamb or animal needed. He went to the spot God showed him to do the sacrifice at. Isaac was bound in the place of where the sacrifice is placed. When Abraham was ready to take the life of his son God promised, he was told to stop. There was no need for this sacrifice, but to test his obedience to God. As Abraham told Isaac, a sacrifice was provided through a ram stuck in a thicket. Isaac was taken off the altar and the animal was then sacrificed to God in his place. In this case, it shows the importance of not getting ahead of God in our steps.
What does this tell us?
God’s blessing always follows our obedience. We see the promise given in Genesis 12:1-4. We saw Abraham’s obedience to leave his country, relatives, and earthly father’s house. Abraham starts with obedience. He goes where God leads. He does what God says. Lot chose one side as God told Abram to let him. Then Abram took the other half in the opposite direction. He waited for the promise and disobeyed in the waiting. Then became obedient to the voice of God again. This great leader who touched God’s heart to later bring His son, Jesus, to earth and sacrifice Him for us. Abraham also touched God’s heart when he begged for his relatives to be saved in Sodom and Gomorrah.
More to this…
This shows how one act of disobedience leads to generations being affected by our choice to sin. We are still dealing with the chaos of the children of Ishmael and Isaac to this day. What we do in sin affects our families. It goes down generation to generation. What we don’t fight becomes a bigger battle for them to deal with. It says in the bible, “I will visit the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7 and Deuteronomy 5:9) This shows that our sin affects those who aren’t even born yet. We will have to watch our reaping and sowing on our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. This breaks my heart.
However, the opposite can occur.
If we take care of our generational iniquities and turn away from the sin, we can save our children and our children’s children. It briefly says, “but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus 20:6) I find it interesting when 6 is the number for humans and this promise is in the 6th verse. I was looking more into this, as I had misunderstood it. I thought that you had to do good so that the 4th generation could be free of sins. It also says, “Yet you say, why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father? When the son has done just and right, and has been careful to do all my statutes, he shall surely live. (Ezekiel 3:19-20)
What other ways can we look at this?
In any given person we deal with, they are having an internal battle over generational iniquities. They are acting upon what they received down a family line. Some may have added on and chose more to fight for themselves. What is right? What is wrong? Put two people in any interaction or relationship and there’s a lot to overcome. This can be through a parent and child. Another way is in a marriage. Then still any other people we encounter through work, school, or daily life. What are they bringing in that needs to be worked through, healed, and gotten rid of? What can be kept that is good? The way they act towards us is not a reflection of us, but of their fallen nature of sin and pain.
What could be the case for you?
The doctor could have given a diagnosis to deal with. There could be a need of resolution and healing in a relationship that hasn’t happened yet and it’s been 5 years. Add in any scenario you have in your life. God has an appointed time for things to happen. It is meant to save us all. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) He can and is working and waiting on all of us in our walks with Him. In the beginning, God knew what would happen and that He would need to sacrifice His son to save us. He sees all and knows all. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)
What to do in the waiting?
As we wait, we need to press into relationship with God. What does that look like? Having faith the size of a mustard seed. Doing works as He guides us. Reading His Word, which is like a love letter. It should be cherished like a letter your earthy father or someone you care deeply about may have left when they died that you can read over and over again. It’s so important. We need to self-reflect and move to repentance when and where needed. Again, God will help us in this. Mainly work on relationships in order. God first. Then husband, kids, family, friends, and others. This order may be different according to what your dynamic is and what is safe for you. I understand that.
Let us pray…
Heavenly Father, thank you for everything you gave us all that we don’t deserve. You gave life, breath, love, Earth, homes, indoor plumbing, heat and ac, people, community, relationship, and more. Help us see the gifts you give each one of us as we need it. Lift us up when we fall and be our strength in our weakness. Cover us and keep us from the snares of the devil. Keep us on Your path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. God, You are so good that we can’t even see all that You do. Thank You for all of it. Help us through and give us just what we need as we need it. Thank You for all the little and big gifts You have given us along the way. Help us receive them and spread Your love to others as they need it. We lift this up, in Jesus’ precious and holy name, Amen.
And one more ting…
God gets the glory for anything that comes from this blog. I am the vessel He is using to reach you. My work is to lead you to Him and let Him help you heal as He leads you. For me, this was in the form of writing this Blog. For you, it could be a podcast, a book, singing, writing music, playing an instrument, doing hair, counseling, and anything He puts on your heart to do for His mission. Saving people from eternal death in hell and making a way to be in heaven with Him and His son, Jesus Christ. God is so good. He gives you a choice to follow Him or not. He doesn’t want to force your love and obedience, He wants you to choose it. Remember, God loved you first.