A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of December 14-18, 2020
MONDAY
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:1-3
Abraham has been given instructions by God to go up to the mountain to sacrifice his only son whom he loves. We know that Abraham actually has two sons (Ishmael was born thirteen years before Isaac), but God refers to Isaac as his only son, whom he loves. By this time, Ishmael has been gone for many years and Isaac is Abraham’s heir and designated by God as his promised seed. Isaac is a type of Christ. Jesus was God’s only begotten Son just as Isaac represents the promised seed of Abraham. All the promises that God made to Abraham concerning his descendants will be carried out through Isaac. Abraham does not hesitate to obey God. He rises early and goes to the designated place.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Exodus 15:26 ~ And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
December 14: 2 Chronicles 16, Revelation 5, Zechariah 1, John 4
December 15: 2 Chronicles 17, Revelation 6, Zechariah 2, John 5
December 16: 2 Chronicles 18, Revelation 7, Zechariah 3, John 6
December 17: 2 Chronicles 19-20, Revelation 8, Zechariah 4, John 7
December 18: 2 Chronicles 21, Revelation 9, Zechariah 5, John 8
December 19: 2 Chronicles 22-23, Revelation 10, Zechariah 6, John 9
December 20: 2 Chronicles 24, Revelation 11, Zechariah 7, John 10
TUESDAY
Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
Genesis 22:4-5
Abraham does something significant here. He waits three days before proceeding with the offering. Abraham looks and sees the exact place of sacrifice afar off. I wonder how far off his vision could see? Could he see Calvary… and the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world? What he says later to the servants is very significant. He tells the servants that he and Isaac will go up together and worship, and then they both will come back down to them. He has faith in God’s ability and desire to raise him up again. He holds God to his original prophecy that in Isaac all the nations of the world will be blessed.
WEDNESDAY
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:6-8
When Isaac asks the father where the animal for the sacrifice is, Abraham says that God himself will provide the lamb for the sacrifice. This was long before Isaiah talked about the Messiah. Abraham saw God as the all-sufficient provider. He knew that God had been a Faithful Provider in all his dealings with him. He had seen the resurrection of his son in a figure according to Hebrews 11:17-19. Abraham received a vision or figure of his son raised from the dead. He spent time worshipping God before he proceeded to sacrifice his son. Through worship he was reassured of God’s provision. As a prophet, he declared what God was going to do.
THURSDAY
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:9-11
Abraham proceeds to the place where God tells him. He knows from experience that it is very important for him to do exactly as God says. When he obeys God, things go well for him. He is able to know God’s provision from this place and he is assured that he has heard from God. This is essential if we are going to know God’s provision. We must be in the place designated for the blessing. If Abraham were not diligent to do exactly as God says, he could wind up with a dead son. If he did not measure God’s words against His character, He would wind up erroneously sacrificing his son to the all sufficient God. Abraham has received an answer from God that will cause him to be even more reassured of God’s provision. He has seen God provide many things, but he is about to experience the resurrection power of God.
FRIDAY
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Genesis 22:12-14
Because Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s voice, God spares his son. Abraham has total confidence in the integrity of his God. He lifts up his eyes and sees a ram caught in the bushes and knows that Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Provider, has seen to it. This is most important for us as believers. Is there a difficult decision facing you? Jehovah God will see to it. Perhaps you feel that God’s promise is far off and you’re not sure anymore of his willingness to bless you… Jehovah will see to it. Are you in a testing situation? Are you being tempted to quit or take the easy way out? Jehovah will see to it. Jehovah Jireh himself will provide the hard things. Trust him with the toughest situation that faces you. You will see the provision of the Lord.