Genesis 22:14

The Chapel Fort Wayne

Genesis 22:14

The Ultimate Provision

February 9, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Genesis 22:14

The story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son is understandably one of the most challenging events to understand in the Bible. But when rightly understood, it is one of the most beautiful stories foreshadowing God's loving sacrifice for us. It's important to keep in mind that God was in control of the situation the entire time, and He knew that Isaac would remain safe. God was using a "test" for Abraham that he would have understood culturally at that time -- to give up your son for the God you serve was the ultimate act of obedience. To be clear, God NEVER desires or requires us to make that sacrifice. But ultimately what this moment showed is a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice that was to come. God does not require us to give up our son, but He was willing to give up His for our sake. God Himself, in the incarnation of Jesus, is the ultimate provision.

PASSAGE: Genesis 22:14 - "So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

PAUSE: Abraham and Isaac's encounter on Mount Moriah foreshadowed the Messiah's death on Calvary. May we never forget the Bible stories that ultimately point us to Jesus and the provision that he provided on the cross. At just the right time in history, Christ died on the cross for our sins and provided salvation to all who place their faith in him as their personal Savior.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, who provides a way to you and the forgiveness of sins. Allow me to see that you also want to provide for my daily needs. Thank you for all you do.

Genesis 22:13

February 8, 2024 • Pastor Josh Lewis • Genesis 22:13

God knows exactly WHAT we need and exactly WHEN we need it. We so often cry out to God to help us in our times of desperation, but we need to remain attentive to recognize when He provides the answer right in front of us. It's easy to let our eyes stay fixed on the trial, the trouble, the pain, the heartache, but when we do that, we can miss what God is providing for us. No matter what situation you're going through, keep your eyes fixed on Him--the ultimate comforter--provider--healer--Savior! PASSAGE: Genesis 22:13 - "And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son." PAUSE: Abraham lifted his eyes and saw a ram in the thicket. Too often, we live our lives with our heads down, feeling depleted and depressed. Abraham is an excellent reminder to lift our heads and see what the Lord will provide us. Lift your eyes and see the Lord. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for all my doubts and confusions about life. I often keep my head down and fail to see where you work. Today, I look up.

Genesis 22:8

February 7, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Genesis 22:8

God allows trials in our lives to accomplish two things. First, He desires to break the hold that our idols have on our lives. This is the process of detaching from secondary things that we have wrongly made the first thing (idol) in our life. But God’s purpose in allowing trials in our lives does not end there. Once He detaches us from second things, there is now the opportunity for us to truly turn to Him as our first thing--as our Lord! This is the essence of the Christian journey. Detaching from things that have a wrong hold on our life and attaching to God as our hope and our help and our everything. And the Lord specializes in providing for us in the midst of our trials--His wisdom and strength and presence that will deepen our faith in Him and will sustain us and grow us through the trial. And the amazing thing is that God’s provision for us is the provision of Himself! PASSAGE: Genesis 22:8 - "Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together." PAUSE: The God Most High is our provision and strength. When our faith is tested, we must trust that the Lord will provide. When our finances are low, the Lord will provide. When our marriage is on shaky ground, the Lord will provide. When our children wander, the Lord will provide. The Lord sees what you are going through and will provide what you need at the perfect time. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, grant me Abraham's faith. I strongly doubt I could do what Abraham did with Isaac, yet that is the type of faith I want. Increase my trust in you today!

Genesis 22:2

February 6, 2024 • Pastor Mike Fanning • Genesis 22:2

John Calvin once said: “The human heart is an idol factory!” The twisted nature of our sinful hearts is to take good things like family, work, possessions, entertainment, hobbies and turn them into ultimate things. Our hearts make gods out of them and put them on the throne of our lives as the thing we truly live for. When we do this, we mistakenly come to believe that they can give us the sense of significance and security, safety and fulfillment that only Jesus Christ can give us. Imagine you are in Abraham's sandals and God has asked you to put to death the good thing in your life that you have made an idol out of. Can you be honest enough with yourself to identify what that thing in your life is? Usually, we downplay our idols or even live in denial that it is an idol. Ask Jesus to give you the courage and the faith to name your idol and then to put Jesus back on the throne of your life and to put your idol back down into its proper place. This is not an easy process and it takes time and great humility. PASSAGE: Genesis 22:2 - "Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” PAUSE: The Lord often tests us with potential idols we might place before him. Some of us love our family first, others our finances and possessions first, and many of us love our comfort and security, but the Lord wants to be first. Our number one priority as believers is to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength. The Lord is a jealous God and desires our affection. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I love you and thank you for all the people and possessions you have blessed me with. Help me to keep you as my first love!