I. OBEDIENCE

When God instructed Abraham to leave his family and go to an unknown place, Abraham obediently followed (Hebrews 11:8, Genesis 12:1-2). He trusted God's promise to bless him and others (Genesis 12:3-4). Abraham's faith was not perfect, but he started by obeying God, illustrating that faith is obedience. James 2:17-19 teaches us that genuine faith is accompanied by good works. A real Christian is someone who not only believes in Jesus but also obeys Him. God uses various tests and challenges to develop our faith, just as Abraham's faith was tested when he went to Egypt (Genesis 12:7,10-13). Through this experience, Abraham learned to place his security in God, realizing that God fulfills His promises no matter what.

II. REST

Faith in God's promises brings a sense of rest (Psalm 37:4-5,7). To experience this rest, we need to delight in the Lord, commit ourselves to Him, trust Him, and patiently wait for Him. Resting in God grants us freedom from constantly demanding our own way, desiring control, and experiencing anxiety, fear, and depression. It requires us to let go and let God. In the midst of problems, we can find peace and security because our faith is rooted in God's character and promises. Abraham and his nephew Lot faced the challenge of prosperity, leading Abraham to demonstrate true rest by trusting in God rather than the land (Genesis 13:7-15). Abraham deferred to Lot's choice of land, knowing that blessings ultimately come from God. Despite Lot's choice, God assured Abraham that all the land would belong to him and his descendants.

III. SURRENDER

The world views surrender as weakness, but for believers, surrender brings strength. Surrender acknowledges God as the ultimate authority. After many years, God tested Abraham's faith (Genesis 22:1) because He was concerned with Abraham's character. God wanted Abraham to surrender his beloved son, Isaac (v.2). Although Isaac was the promised heir and Abraham had waited for him for a long time (Romans 4:19-21), he instantly obeyed God (v.3). As Abraham and Isaac approached the place of sacrifice, Isaac questioned the absence of a lamb, to which Abraham replied that God would provide (vv.7-8). Abraham's trust in God's promise is evident here (Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 17:18-19,21; Genesis 21:12). However, before Abraham could sacrifice his son, God intervened and provided a ram (vv.13-14). This event highlights the test of real faith: obedience. We can only obey someone we trust, and we can only trust someone we know. Abraham surrendered completely to God because he knew that God is faithful and trustworthy.

When we examine the lives of Isaac and Jesus, we discover striking similarities between them. Isaac, as Abraham's only son, foreshadows God the Father's only Son, Jesus. Just as Isaac carried the wood for his sacrifice, Jesus carried the weight of the wooden cross for His ultimate sacrifice on Calvary. Both Isaac and Jesus displayed unwavering trust and obedience to their fathers. Isaac willingly obeyed Abraham's instructions, while Jesus faithfully followed His Father's plan, even unto death. The location of their sacrifices further parallels their lives, as both Isaac and Jesus were offered on Mount Moriah.

However, there is a notable distinction in their sacrifices. Isaac was provided with a substitute ram, sparing his life, whereas Jesus became the ultimate substitute Himself, offering His life for the redemption of humanity. Jesus is rightly hailed as the Lamb of God. In Him, we find hope, peace, and transformation in our lives!