God is always stretching our faith.
1. Then the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, 'Can an old woman like me have a baby?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return this time next year, and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she denied it it, saying, "I didn't laugh." But the Lord said, "No, you did laugh."
(Genesis18:13-15)
Faith is believing that God is able to keep His promises. It seems there are times when God can throw some funny or questionable things our way. We might end up in an unprecedented or comfortable situation that only He could orchestrate or maybe He asks us to something that stretches our faith to the point where we might snap.
- Have you ever laughed at God - maybe because of a situation that he put you in?
- Have you questioned God's will for your life or for a particular situation?
- Please share an example from your life where God was more concerned about your character than your comfort.
2. It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God had told him, "Isaac is the son through who your descendants will be counted." Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
(Hebrews 11:17-19)
God tested Abraham and he obeyed. God then blessed Abraham because he didn't hold back.
- Can you imagine God asking you to sacrifice your child? How might you respond?
- What other things do we hold back from God? How can we let go so that we might experience God's blessing for our lives?
These questions are posted to open up discussion and comments on the story of Abraham and Isaac. Please feel free to share your own thoughts, comments and questions on this topic. You may comment on other posts, too.
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God really seems to be putting my family through the ringer this year - a true test of faith is on the clock. I say "on the clock" because I want to fully believe that God only has us in this hard season for a time and that if we remain faithful that we will experience His blessings. Every now and then doubt slips in and I get so doggone frustrated with myself and need to remember all the times that God has provided for me and my family. God, please give me faith like Abraham . . .
ReplyDeleteMoving to Michigan, at several points in the last three years seemed pointless and stupid to me. I did not understand why we were here or why we left a great life in Arizona. Definitely God's plan. We are here for many reasons, the least of which was to grow out faith. Any troubled season in our lives, anyone's lives, is a chance for your faith to falter or grow, or both. We have been stretched these last years, and on some days, I have been broken. That being said, if my faith could grow as much as it has, and the faith of my family, I would do it all again, just for that. The will of God will never lead you to where the Grace of God will not protect you. I truly believe that. I always say that God never leads you to cliff so you can jump off. He takes you there, tests you there, and rescues you there. I have been to that cliff, and He has always saved me.
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