22 – Confidence In God
Dear family and friends, There are times when God Places issues in our life, to see how we will respond. Each of us faces challenging difficulties in real-time. WHY? God is Examining us. (Genesis Chapter 22.1) says, ‘God Examined Abraham’, not Satan! Abraham had to go through ten tests/examinations even though God Knew him. Like Abraham, each of us must experience life’s trials. We must feel the pressure, stress, anxiety, worry, and sleepless nights to examine if we have confidence in The Lord God? Do we trust the Words of Ha Torah? EVERYONE WILL BE TESTED!! Trials, tests, and examinations are opportunities to build trust in God.
(Genesis 22) shares Abraham’s tenth and final examination. And it happened after these events, God tested Abraham. God Called to him. ‘Abraham!’
Abraham responded, ‘Here I am.’
God Said to him, ‘Take your son.’
Abraham said, ‘I have two sons.’
God Said, ‘Your only son.’
Abraham said, ‘Ishmael is an only son to Hagar and Isaac is an only son to Sarah.’
God Said,’ [Take] the one whom you love.’
Abraham said, ‘I love Ishmael, and I love Isaac.’
God Said, ‘Take Isaac and go to the land of Moriah sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will designate to you.’ At that time Isaac was 37 years old. Parents, how many 37-year-old sons are willing to acquiesce to their fathers?
Later on in Ha Torah, some of our ancestors struggled with the test of trusting Moses. Some doubted the promises of a land flowing with milk and honey. It is not unusual for us to feel weak, surprised, vulnerable when our test feels overwhelming.
Ha Torah Teaches us just how human we are. When the pressure is on and the heat is turned up, some of us may doubt the existence of God. We may feel like God does not keep His Word. We may have STOPPED believing in The Holy Scriptures. Perhaps we seem abandoned, isolated, lost in the universe. What do we do when everything in our world seems upside down and backward? How do we keep our souls from being lost at sea? What happens when just about everything we believe seems to evaporate? It is reasonable to be frightened, worried, and insecure when threats are pounding on our doors and lurking in our backyard in uncertain times like these!
Abraham lived safely, securely, and confidently in God’s promises. Abraham placed his hope in the promises of The Lord, even though there were times of adversity and trouble. Through it all, The Lord God never Failed Abraham or Sarah or those they loved!! How did Abraham live so confidently? What did Abraham know that could benefit us right now?
Abraham was logical. He used deductions and reasoning from an early age. Abraham was a Prophet that benefited from dreams, visions, and other spiritual perceptions. Abraham studied ‘Derek HaShem’ the Way of The Lord with Noach, Shem, and Eber. He was mindful of the Lord, His Spiritual Presence, His Will, His Desire. Abraham experienced God. The Things of God were not foreign to him. He had a constant awareness of God’s Presence. He remembered God’s deliverance from May Oohr Kasdim, ‘the fiery furnaces’, and his victory over the kings that kidnapped his kinsman and stole their possessions. The communication between God and Abraham was not frayed, tarnished, or corroded. Abraham was hot-wired!
Since Abraham knew God’s Will, he arose early in the morning, saddled his ass, chopped wood for the burnt offering, took Isaac and two young attendants [Eleazar and Ishmael]. They headed towards the land of Moriah. On the third day, Abraham raised his eyes and ‘saw The Place’ from a distance. He said to his attendants, ‘the lad, and I will go [up] yonder and worship, and come back to you.’
(Genesis 22) speaks of the Akedah. We will review the offering of Isaac on Mount Moriah then return to the conclusion of the question, What did Abraham know that could benefit us right now?
(Genesis 22.6) says, ‘Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac, his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and the both of them went on together. And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, ‘My father.’
[Abraham replied], ‘Here I am, my son.’
[Isaac] said, ‘Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’
Abraham said, ‘My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering,’ so they went on together. And they came to the place which God had told him; and Abraham built an altar there, laid the wood in order, 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. And an angel/messenger of The Lord called to [Abraham] from heaven, [speaking on behalf of God] saying, ‘Abraham, Abraham.’
He said, ‘I am here.’
[The Messenger said,] ‘Do not lay your hand upon the lad, nor do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God, seeing that you did not withhold your son, your only son from me.’ And Abraham lifted his eyes, looked, and behold behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in place of his son.
Being hot-wired provides little confidence for those with a corroded battery cable connection to God. Confidence in God requires more than a thinly veiled awareness. Confidence in God has to be maintained. As noted before, the communication between God and Abraham was not full of fear, tarnished, or corroded. Confidence and assurance require us to develop a healthy relationship with God. A shallow awareness of God is not enough! It is good to honor God, be honest, don’t steal, lie, et cetera, yet to have confidence requires developing a strong root system. Confidence in God requires more than a thinly veiled awareness. If one knows little to nothing about God how can they be part of ‘A kingdom of priests, and a holy nation?’ (Exodus 19.6) If all that one knows is to honor God, be honest, don’t steal, lie, et cetera, how will he/she know the Observances that strengthen their confidence in God? Why should one even bother? (Mishlei 14.34) says, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’
Abraham knew that it was NOT God’s Will for him to sacrifice Isaac. God does not Permit human sacrifice regardless of the reason or situation! Abraham and Isaac were being proven.
May each of us enjoy good health, happiness, healing, restoration, and Blessing, as we study confidence and trust in The Lord and Ha Torah.
Good Sabbath!
Blessings,
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
