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Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. As we said in the last study, the Father desires that every place should be a meeting place and every place should be a place of worship with Him. Places of true worship are places where FAITH is tested. In this place of worship God watches the man and his heart. God told Abraham what He wanted as an offering, and Abraham obeyed. It would seem that Abraham did not just see this in the negative, as a place where he had to give up his son as an offering. Abraham saw this as a place and an opportunity to meet with God and worship Him. Now consider the offering. Abraham had received a promise of a seed that would bless the nations. He tried to make Lot that son and God said NO. He tried to make Eliezer that son and God said NO. He tried to make Ishmael that son and God said NO. Isaac was the son of promise. Abraham had waited for him for over 20 years. Now he was to lay him on an altar and sacrifice him to the Lord. But that is not all. Remember, the sacrifice to the Lord was to be burnt completely with the fire of the altar. Abraham’s promised son was to be completely consumed and fully offered up on the altar of testing and obedience. Abraham proved by obedience that he was a man of faith and a friend of God. Wow. And he said that he was going to mountain to WORSHIP.
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Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,
This is the first time the actual word “worship” is used in Scripture. Don’t you find it fitting that the first time that the word worship is used it is connection with death. Read Gen. 22:1-9 for the complete story. God was testing Abraham’s trust and faithfulness. Abraham was trusting God’s faithfulness. God wants every place to be a place of worship. God wants every circumstance to be a circumstance of worship. True worship has nothing to do with music and everything about walking in the fear of the Lord with quick and full obedience to His Word, without holding back anything from Him, no matter the cost. Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Genesis 22:8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. "God will provide" Jehovah-jireh or Yahweh Yireh Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Notice the emphasis on “the place”. The place of worship is important because we are called to worship God on His conditions. This means we are to move with Him when He says and not demand that He enter our structured place and time. We have been programmed to demand God to come to our place in our time slots (spiritual manipulation), for what we want to offer as worship, which usually cost us nothing. Because of this Sunday morning 11:00-12:00 programing, it would seem strange to our thinking that God would demand our obedience to be in HIS place, in HIS timing, and offering a great costly sacrifice, for true worship to happen. Genesis 15:7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
In true Biblical worship we find that God “takes us out” so that He can “bring us in”. The Father had to get Abraham out of the land of Ur in order to bring him into the land of promise. So it is with us. We are in the world, but not of the world. Our faith is not natural but supernatural. God calls us out of the world, out of sin, out of the life and nature of old Adam, out of walking to fulfill the desires of the flesh INTO a Christ-like life. God calls us into a deeper relationship and fellowship with Him. God calls us into a walk of practical righteousness and holiness. God calls us into His places in the heavenlies to sit down with Him. Our act of worship should be our natural response to the covenant that God made with us. We have nothing to bring to the table except our lives and a desire to worship the king of glory. Genesis 15:8-12 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? [9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. [10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. [11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. [12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. Genesis 15:17-18 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. [18] In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Father walked between the two pieces establishing the covenant with Abraham while Abraham slept. The Lord Jesus Christ did the same in the garden as the disciples slept. Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; [21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. In true worship we will find that as we seek the Lord something wonderful will happen. Remember that we worship by (1) walking hand-in-hand with God the Father daily in confession, repentance, sacrifice, obedience, and thanksgiving. (2) We must deal with sin correctly, (3) bring the acceptable offering to the Lord, and (4) have complete obedience no matter how great the personal cost. But what is the proof of true worship? It is having a great testimony. In the Scriptures given today we will see Abraham's “TESTIMONY OF WORSHIP.” Thousands of years after Abraham lived we still have his testimony of worship in the New Testament as an example to follow. Today we still look to the acts of Abraham and stand in awe at his un-relentless desire to seek and please the Father’s heart. In all that we honor Abraham for we can see that his worship came out of a heart of faith. ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD. That is why we stress Heb.11:6 so strongly. James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Today, some who claim to be worshipping God could be defined as an emotional activity, void of faith and trust in God and His Word. Does your worship carry a testimony of faith trusting in what God says? We proclaim today that we are the seed of Abraham blessed with his blessings. Okay, then it would seem right to carry the same testimony of faith as Abraham. Genesis 15:1-6 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. [2] And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? [3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. [4] And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. [5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. [6] And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
In true Biblical worship, as we seek the Lord, something wonderful will happen. We worship by walking hand-in-hand with God the Father daily in confession, repentance, sacrifice, obedience, and thanksgiving. We saw in the first few studies that true worship happens... (1) when we deal with sin correctly, (2) when we bring the acceptable offering to the Lord, and (3) when we respond with complete obedience to the Lord no matter how great the personal cost. We also learned that true worship comes forth from a heart of gratefulness and thanksgiving. Here is the new dynamic about worship. When we walk in belief (faith), the Father takes the initiative and comes to meet with us. After the battle with the kings, the Lord appears to Abraham in a vision. He reveals Himself as Abraham’s Shield and Reward, (Protector and Provider). In that place of worship Abraham reminded God about His promise for a son. Abraham tried to help God by bringing his servant Eliezer before the Lord as the heir and seed of promise. In this time of worship God gave Abraham a visual picture of the stars and renewed His promise of a son from his bowels. Two great results happened in this act of worship. 1. Abraham believed God at His Word. 2. God counted that belief as righteousness on Abraham. Genesis 14:17-24 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. [19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: [20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. [21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. [22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, [23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: [24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion. Abraham went out to rescue Lot and his family. God gave Abraham a great victory and upon returning the Father took him to another place of worship. Abraham met Melchizedek, the king of Salem. Melchizedek was the priest of the “Most High God.” The Hebrew word for this is “El-Elyon” and means “the Possessor of Heaven and Earth.” Melchizedek is introducing Abraham to a new name for God that carried a new authority and promise. The name El-Elyon says that God is “over all, above all that is, and the highest of everything.” It is the name that is above every name, “The Most High.” Melchizedek brought the bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him and his God. Melchizedek and Abraham acknowledged God as their provider. Abraham brought his tithes to Melchizedek. Abraham refused the spoils of the enemy because he wanted to say that God cared for him and his needs and not some evil unrighteous king. This valley became a coveted place of worship for Abraham as he surrendered to trusting the Lord for care and provision. (Small example of this text). The Old Testament shadow here for New Testament substance. Think about it when the man of God, your Pastor, a priest of the Most High God, serving the church in peace, blesses you with the Lord's Supper table, (the bread and the wine), and you honor the Lord and the church as you bring your tithe with great thanksgiving to the storehouse. Genesis 12:8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.
Again Abraham acknowledges his relationship with the Lord. He realizes that all the land belongs to the Lord and again he “called upon the name of the Lord.” Again we see worship taking place. This is the “heart of worship” and the heart of meeting with the Father. It is calling on Him out of our sense of dependence and putting our trust in Him as our deliverer and provider. The act of “calling out to the Lord” is the true mark of those who have learn to trust and follow God no matter where He leads. The ability of Abraham to quickly follow the Lord was due to the fact that he “pitched tents” and “built altars,” instead of “pitching altars” and “building houses.” Today we want the American dream of owning a house. Through this we may have developed the attitude that the house is our permanent security and the altar is the temporary place once a week down at the church. But our Father Abraham, whose seed we come from, knew that the house is the temporary structure, and the altar is the permanent security. We all start out our Christian life the same by “calling upon the name of the Lord.” This is what makes us “believers.” But it does not stop there, because we continue our Christian life “calling upon the name of the Lord” as we follow Him. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 2 Tim. 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Genesis 12:1-3, 7 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: [2] And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. [7] And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
It has been a little over 1,000 years from the time of Adam to Abraham. In these Scriptures we see that God was establishing a land (a new place), a what (a new people), a who (a new name), and a when (a continuous future) who will worship Him. In Gen. 12:1-3 we have what we call the “Abrahamic Covenant”. It is more a covenant of worship from God to man. He was re-establishing relationship with man by making a people from those who were not a people, the Jewish nation, and moving worship from an individual act to a corporate act. What did Abraham do after the Father spoke the covenant promise? In verse 7 we see that he built an altar and worshipped the Father of promises. Remember that the “altar” represents a place of sacrifice, a place of giving, a place of submission, and a place of one honoring another. What was God’s response? He appeared to Abraham. This sounds like the relationship that Adam enjoyed before the fall. It involved worship, walking hand-in-hand with God the Father daily in confession, repentance, sacrifice, obedience, and thanksgiving. By the covenant promise that God gave to Abraham He was setting apart a land (the place), setting apart a people (the what), setting apart a name, (the who), and setting apart a future, (the when) for His Divine Presence. When God “sets apart” a land, a people, a name, and a future it means that He declares it “holy for His presence.” God is more committed to (us) a people that will worship Him then we are committed to give Him the act of worship. Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord. We see in these two Scriptures the result of a broken fellowship and relationship with the Father and yet we see that God is calling mankind back to fellowship with Him. No matter how far a nation will turn away from the Father, He will try tp get that nation to repent and if it will not He will keep a remnant with a heart after Him. Because of the innocence of Adam’s heart before the fall, we could actually say that everything he did was an “act of worship” and everywhere he went was a “place of worship.” This again is an Old Testament shadow of New Testament truth and substance. In Adam’s sin we see the progression of separation from the Father. First, he was not sensitive to the voice of God and stopped hearing the voice of the Father and listened to other voices. Secondly, he no longer was submissive to the will of God but desired his own will. Thirdly, he was no longer obedient to the Word of God but became obedient to the words of another. One minute everything Adam did was a selfless act of worship and the next minute everything he did was an act of selfishness. One minute everywhere Adam stood was a place of pure worship and the next minute everywhere Adam stood was a place of fallen nature, infected with the sin and death of disobedience. In the blood atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ and through His resurrection we have the right to be called the “sons of God.” With that right comes the power and right to walk as a son. In walking as a “son of God” we have the ability because God's righteousness on us and His Holy Spirit within us, to walk as Adam did before his rebellion and have that daily relationship and fellowship with the Father. In doing so everything we do can be an act of worship and everywhere we go can be a place of worship because where we place our feet is holy ground. 2 Tim. 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We have spent a lot of time in the past devotionals discussing the “how” in meeting God in a place of worship. (1) We must deal with sin correctly, (2) we must offer the acceptable sacrifice of worship meaning that we come to God His way and not our way, (3) we must be obedient no matter what the cost and (4) we must have a grateful heart. Now I would like to look at the “place” where we meet God in worship. Where do we meet God? Where do we worship Him? Every culture has set apart certain places to meet with God. In a lot of denominations the "special" place is in the front of the church kneeling at the altar bench. In Gen.2 we saw that God planted a Garden and placed man there to meet with Him each day. There was no building, no structure, no Tabernacle, just a place where God and man met to have fellowship together. God has wanted the place where we meet Him for worship to be a joyful place. We have said before that Adam and Eve’s worship experience with God was pure and unhindered before the fall. First of all Adam was sensitive to God’s voice. This is something we seem to have difficulty with in these days because we are sensitive and listen to the voices of the world. Secondly, Adam and Eve were submissive to God’s will. This is also difficult today in that we live in a society that screams at us to exercise our own rights and will. Thirdly, Adam and Eve were obedient up to the point were they ate from the forbidden tree. We don’t know how long they walked with God before this act of disobedience, but the implication of Scriptures seems to have Adam and Eve in a sweet relationship and fellowship time with the Father. God wanted Adam to name all the animals. We see Adam’s obedience in following His wishes. When we walk with the Lord in forgiveness, purity, righteousness, and obedience, then the Father will led us into ACTS of worship and PLACES of worship. In other words, we will do what He wants us to do at the place He wants us to do it. Why did our Lord Jesus Christ pick the garden to spend His last hours in prayer before facing the cross? Because the Father directed Him there. Find the place where you seem to be sensitive to the Father's voice and meet with the King of Glory there. Ephes. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
1 Thes. 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. Grieving the Spirit or Quenching the Spirit, both are sins that can keep us from walking hand-in-hand with the Father in deep worship. We are continuing with the discipline of true worship. We said in the first few studies that “we need to deal with sin correctly”. What are the two main ways in which we as believers sin? We can grieve the Holy Spirit or we can quench the Holy Spirit. To “Grieve” the Holy Spirit means to commit sins of commission. This basically means that we are DOING WHAT WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. To “Quench” the Holy Spirit means to commit the sins of omission. This basically means that we are NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. An example of grieving the Holy Spirit would be getting drunk. An example of quenching the Holy Spirit would be to neglect prayer or Bible reading. This is why we ask the Lord to search our hearts and our thoughts to see if there is any sinful way in us. Because we know from Jer.17:9 that our hearts are wicked and will lie to us. In asking God to search our hearts He will show us our method and motive in worship and if it is pleasing and acceptable to Him or not. Let us remember what worship is. It is not emotional, although emotions can be involved. It is not a song or music or a music team, although these can be used. It is not a certain activity, although activities can be involved. The reason I say this is that I hear all the time that we have a worship team or a worship time and it is always tied to music and a song. Worship is this. It is bowing our head, or our body in a place of reverence and communion with the Father. It is kneeling or laying on the floor in obedient reverence before the Lord. These are the Biblical accounts of worship. Like most words or Biblical activities we tend to departmentalized Biblical disciplines into a religious structure involving only certain people. Like we say, “they are the intercessors”. We are all intercessors by calling, just not all intercessors by deed. CHALLENGE: I challenge you to find one place in the Bible where people were called to worship or were in the act of worship when music was involved. Let us not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit so that true Biblical worship is achieved and maintained. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24] And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
In these past 15 lessons on worship I pray that we have seen that it is God’s heart that we worship in Spirit and in truth. He is concerned in how we worship, what we bring as an offering when we worship, where we worship, why we worship, and who we worship. We have seen in the past 15 lessons that worship is not just an emotion or just a religious activity and it is not music. The terms "worship time," "worship teams," and "worship songs," are not Biblical and have served as a distraction in that these religious activities have robbed the Father of true worship. As we studied before and we will see again throughout the Scriptures that worship means to BOW THE HEAD, THE BODY, or to LAY BEFORE THE LORD on the ground. It is physical posture of the body representing a spiritual position of the heart. Worship is not about music, a song, or a band. All of this we will explore later. Worship is connecting with the Father and walking in deep relationship and fellowship each day, and enjoying that fellowship time no matter what is happening around us. We saw that true worship happens when we...(1). Deal with sin correctly, (2). Bring the acceptable offering to the Lord, and when (3). Complete obedience is observed no matter how great the personal cost. We also learned that true worship comes forth from a heart of gratefulness and thanksgiving. In studying the lives of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, and Abraham and Isaac we saw that true worship was taking place BEFORE the Tabernacle was even built by Moses. Therefore, worship did not need a building or structure to happen. When our Lord Jesus Christ met the woman at the well, she asked the question about where one should worship. The “where” that God is seeking is not necessarily a physical place as it is a “heart place.” John 4:20-24 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. [21] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. [22] Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. [23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. It doesn't take much for us to see the salvation and deliverance the Father is working in and through us. It is Scriptural for us to worship God from a grateful heart.
Exodus 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. God and man meeting in true worship at the point of obedience and deliverance. In this devotional I will just give some Old Testament Scriptures revealing the worship of God’s people when they came through a point of salvation and deliverance. Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. Exodus 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. Exodus 17:14-16 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. [15] And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: [16] For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. We live in a day that says we should build a house and make it permanent but spiritually we should pitch an altar and make it temporal. However, in the Old Testament we find that the saints of God pitched a tent and saw their dwelling place as temporal, and built an altar for they saw their spiritual worship as permanent. This world is not our home, we are only passing through, therefore we shouldn't make such an effort sacrificing the eternal on the altar of the temporal. When we reflect of how the Father delivered us from the power of sin and the world, we should be moved to bow our heads and worship the king of Glory. The traits of true worship:
I will add descriptive meaning in parenthesis to certain words within this verse. Romans 12:1 ESV I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present (a decisive dedication) your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy (that which is devoted and consecrated) and acceptable (that which is well pleasing) to God, which is your spiritual worship. In offering “true worship” to the Father we have studied three requirements so far in the first 13 lessons. 1. With Adam and Eve we saw that “true worship” requires us to deal with sin correctly. 2. With Cain and Abel we saw that “true worship” requires that we worship God’s way because not all that we offer may be acceptable to the Father. 3. With Noah, Abraham and Isaac we saw that “true worship requires total obedience. The fourth truth of “true worship” is that it comes forth from a grateful heart. In other words, worship is a logical, natural and spiritual response when we understand what the Father has done for us. We see in Genesis the list of references to those who built altars to worship the Lord, or those who bowed the head, the knees, or the body before the Lord as an act of worship. These all came from a grateful heart for the great things done by the Father. I have listed some of these references for your own personal study later on. Those who bowed the head, knees, or body in worship, or those who built an altar. Gen.8:19:20; 12:7-8; 13:3-4; 13:14-18; 18:1-3; 19:1; 22:4-5; 22:8-9; 24:23-27; 24:48; 24:51-52; 26:24-25; 33:18-20; 35:1-7 A thankful heart is a strong motivator to worship. We don’t have to look very far to find things to be thankful for. If we have dealt with sin correctly, if we have worshipped God’s way and not our way, and if we walk in obedience in word, deed and thought, then out of a thankful heart “true worship” will flow. By the way, true worship has nothing to do with music. Music is an act of praise, among 20 other forms of praising God. The terms worship team, worship time, and worship songs are religious terms brought about to replace what true worship is. There is not one verse in the Bible where music is tied to worship other than when we rightly praise God it should lead us to worship. Don't we question as to how our Lord Jesus Christ worshipped so much. yet without having a music team following Him around? More on this later. Hebrews 11:17-19 ESV By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, (18) of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” (19) He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
As we have seen in earlier studies, true worship requires... (1) Walking hand-in-hand daily with God, (2) Dealing correctly with sin, (3) Bringing an acceptable sacrifice before the Lord and, (4) Walking in total obedience. Of course we cannot separate true worship from faith. It takes faith in a Holy God to walk out all four of these requirements for true worship. Even though Abraham was to sacrifice his only son, he stood on faith that God would raise him from the dead to fulfill His covenant promises. This is the type of worship many believers are totally unfamiliar with. Abraham told his servants that he and Isaac were going up to worship and that they would both return. Remember, this is the first time the word "worship" is used in the Bible. It is worth mentioning that although animal sacrifice was the means of a blood covering for the sins of the people, it is totally out of God’s character to demand a human sacrifice, unless He were teaching us something. Isaac was a “type,” or a “shadow” of the New Testament substance, of Christ and the cross. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the only HUMAN sacrifice that the Father approved of. What He asked of Abraham was a test of Abraham’s “fear” or “Awe” of God. It was the most costly sacrifice asked for by God as a means to worship in the Old Testament. It was a perfect picture of the Father giving up His only Son that we may walk daily with Him. Obedience is a measuring tool of our “fear,” or reverence for God. Genesis 22:12 ESV He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” We find David here on this same mount many years later when he purchases the threshing floor. Hear David’s words as he refused to offer a sacrifice that cost him nothing… 1 Chronicles 21:24 ESV But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
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