"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 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.
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." 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."
(Gen. 22:1-8, NKJV)
A FATHER UNDER TRIAL!
As we celebrate Father's Day 2000, the family and fathers in particular, are under trial. The forces of drug addition, crime, teen pregnancy, divorce, mis-education, AIDS, feeling of inferiority, unemployment and underemployment are tearing our families asunder. The causes for this present situation is complex and multifaceted, but most would agree, that the lack of strong fathers in the family is a definite contributor.We have been able to survive irreparable complications of attempted genetic genocide, of being uprooted from our ancestral families and simultaneously deprived of names, culture, legacy, inheritance, and yet we were able to keep our families together. Like the children of Israel, they made our lives bitter with hard bondage¯in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in field. All their service in which they made us work was with rigor. (Exod. 1:14) When they took away the straw, we still made bricks and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty. (Exod. 1:7) I believe our foreparents were able to endure because each family member knew and accepted their role. There was no doubt in anyone's mind who the father was. The father was the father, not because he was the tallest, loudest or strongest, but rather because he assumed the responsibility to provide for his family.
First, the lesson of obedience. The primary thing that God wants from man is obedience. "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1 Sam. 15:22) Abraham was obedience when he first responded to God's call. He had to reaffirm his decision to be obedient in the toughest decision a father could face. Modern man must be obedient to the voice and Word of God. Second, is that all things belong to God. "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therein." (Ps. 24:1) Abraham understood that he was just a steward of his son Isaac. Abraham, a type of the Father who "did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." (Rom. 8:32) All love must be subordinate to our love of God. Fathers must be willing to surrender all to God. Third, fathers must trust in the faithfulness of God. The author of Proverbs declares, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Prov. 3:5-6) Abraham had faith in God. He did not question what God asked him to do he just did it. If you make a sacrifice, expecting that God will return your Isaac, that is a sham sacrifice, not a real one. We can only hold those things that we give away. Fathers should love their children unconditional, without question. Fathers should love their wives, without question. Fathers should be responsible members of their families, without question. Fourth, we are perfected in our trials. James states, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4) Abraham became the man he was through his trials. It is in trials that the character of a man is formed. The new millennium man should endure trials as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Trials come to make us strong! Finally, there are blessings for the fathers that are faithful in trials. Read verses 15-24 of the cited text. God reaffirms his promise to bless Abraham and his seed. God rewards faithfulness. The fathers of 2000 must dedicate themselves to a faithful walk in God. Like Enoch, we must learn to walk with God. (Gen. 5:21-24)
God desires to have fathers who will serve their families, communities, and God and not neglect them for the transient luxuries of this world. God wants fathers with character and courage of the biblical Abraham to do whatever is righteous to preserve and protect their families. God is looking for fathers that will have the faith to raise godly and productive families. Have you been true to God? How have you done in your trials as a father?
Happy Father's Day!
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