Will of God - Isaac and the Wood

''Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife ...''

This verse speaks volumes about Abraham's love for God.

Isaac was his only son. A son of the promise God gave to Abraham.

We can imagine how much he would have loved to see the son of his own body, born to him in a very good old age. He must have brought him up with utmost care and both Sarah and Abraham would have been so protective about him.

But, this was only until God spoke and wanted Isaac as a sacrifice...

That very moment, Abraham's love for God made him put his desire under the woods of fire.

'' Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac ... ''

The most precious thing for Abraham was asked of him... and immediately, with no hesitation and fuss, his desire went beneath the fire woods to be burnt away.

The Will of God was placed on the shoulders of the very promise of God.

Dear people, God will take us all through such situations, in order to test our reverence and faith.

But we all must be ready to put away our earthly desires under the woods of fire, and show that, for us, fear of God is more valuable than any thing else under the sun.

Wood, here represents the will of God. ( Will of God was to sacrifice Issac )
And Isaac represents our desire, that needs to be sacrificed for God, if God wants us to.

In this process, many a time you may have to forgo people you love, forgo opportunities you have been cherishing, and forgo resources that perhaps are your only source of livelihood, but let them all be placed under the wood - be placed under the will of God - and uphold the fear of God in every kind of situation that God wants to take you through.

People may not be able to comprehend the reasons behind your decisions..

They might wonder what on earth are you doing, and you might face questions from them, but handle them according to your belief in God and answer them according to your faith.

Do not get confused and wonder if you are doing the right thing , for the world doesn't know that you are walking with a Living God, and you are not walking alone.

And we walk to please Him. Not the world.

'' Psalm 40: 8 - 10

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know O Lord.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.

I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. ''

Our God wants us to proclaim His righteousness, when He takes us through tests.

He doesn't want us to keep it within ourselves and act timid with people, just because we are going through a situation that might seem uncommon for the outside world.

When He takes us through tests, we ought to proclaim His love and faithfulness and speak of His salvation, among the people, whom He is leading us through.

Now, when Abraham was taking Isaac to give him up as a sacrifice, he did not go just with Isaac.

He took the necessary equipment needed for the sacrifice.

Lets see what was that:

''Genesis 22:6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife ...''

So, Abraham carried a knife and fire. Its only with a knife that a sacrifice can be cut. Right ?

Similarly, just as a knife is the only weapon with which one can cut a sacrifice, the Sword of God, which is His word, is the only weapon with which one can cut the desires of soul.

'' Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.''

If we are to sacrifice the desires of our soul, then we need this sword.

We need God's strength. We cannot do it all ourselves.

God knows this, hence He gave us Jesus, who has overcome the world for us, so that we can readily give away anything God wants us to give up, with the help of Jesus.

'' Genesis 27 : 11-14

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ''Abraham! Abraham!''

''Here I am,'' he replied.

''Do not lay a hand on the boy,'' he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.''

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, '' On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'' ''

So... When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, was He against Isaac ?

When Abraham proved faithful to Him, God sent His angel just in time, and saved the child!

And He even arranged a ram and provided Abraham to sacrifice.

So, dear people, do not think that God is against the things that you love, when He asks you to give them up for His sake.

He has higher purposes behind executing His will in our lives - He wants to make our relationship with Him stronger, so that He can take us to higher levels in faith, and entrust us with much higher promises and display His glory in our lives, and use us as weapons for spreading His Kingdom.

Just like God sent an angel and provided a ram, and gave back Isaac, looking at your obedience and your fear of Him, God will provide you back all that you have 'put under the wood' to do His will.

Therefore dear people, holding the sword of His Word in our hand, let us march ahead ...

standing firm in faith, upholding our fear of our Lord ..

placing wood on everything that we need to burn away, in order to please our God...

and let us do the will of God, unswervingly, proclaiming His righteousness, speaking of His love and truth and salvation, all the way!

God Bless You.