Discover God Is Real

Abraham had a trusted servant. We aren’t told much about him, but when Abraham sent him on the important mission of securing a wife for Isaac, the man did not pray to God because he had relationship with God himself. Instead, he prayed, O Lord God of my master Abraham, please give me success. . . . (Gen. 24:12 NKJV)

There are people today who have prayed and received answers from God—but who do not claim to know God personally. Usually they know God answers prayer because someone else received an answer or answers. But they are not in the habit of praying themselves. Perhaps they think they are not good enough to pray. Perhaps they do not want to submit to God—they might even think prayer is an attempt to escape responsibility.

Yet, in a time of crisis or need, they prayed. And just as God answered Abraham's servant by providing Rebecca to be Isaac's wife, God answers prayer today. It seems God delights in meeting people when they pray. Sometimes He uses that prayer as a catalyst to bring a person to Himself. Whatever the circumstance, people discover God is real when they pray.

God answered Abraham’s servant. When He did, the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord. (v. 27)

Originally published January 10, 1992.

Faith Made Complete

The Bible tells us God tested Abraham by telling him, Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering. (Gen. 22:1-3 NIV)

Many years earlier Abraham had met and responded to this God who was different than the pagan gods. Pagan gods demanded human sacrifice, but the God Abraham knew and loved did not. Now Abraham’s God seemed to require the very thing He had abhorred. How could Abraham understand that it was God speaking?

We cannot fathom such an event. Difficult as it must have been, Abraham obeyed. Early the next morning he and Isaac set off on a three-day journey with two servants and a donkey to carry supplies.

Centuries later James used this story to illustrate the relationship between faith and deeds when he says, You see that his [Abraham’s] faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. . . . (Jas. 2:22)

Sometimes God comes to us and seems to ask the impossible. Will we obey?

When the voice of God told Abraham that he should not offer his son but rather a ram caught in a thicket, he obeyed again. In his obedience, he learned once again that he could trust his Friend.

But Abraham did not know God's plan when he began his journey. His part was trusting his friend. He had to walk by faith.

Originally published November 9, 1984.

Picture: From Patty's garden, 2008. Photo by Solveig.