“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 slave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” vs. 3.
Again we are reminded of the effect of faith on behavior. How lovely Abraham’s expression when God called to him in the opening verse of this chapter, “Behold, here I am,” or, “Behold me.” The immediate response in presenting himself completely open to hear God’s words, whatever they might be, spoke of the attitude of submission that marked this faithful man after all the trials and testings of his earlier life. Would it not be a happy thing for every child of God to be found walking in such a way that without delay or the need of first correcting something in his conduct, he too could say, “Behold me” when the Lord might bring a testing? Alas, how many professing the Lord need to revise some manner of behavior if the Lord should thus speak to them! There can, of course, be no readiness or ability to obey His voice, if things unsuited to the believer’s calling stand in the way. It is most important to have a pattern of life consistent with the truth so that the Word of God will always be welcomed. Perhaps the Psalmist had a sense of this need when he said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psa. 139:23,2423Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23‑24).
Abraham, receiving God’s instructions, “rose up early in the morning.” It has been noticed before that it was one of the characters of this man of faith to obey God promptly and without questioning. Had he been lacking in faith the story would be entirely different, for the natural mind and heart would have questioned obedience to such a demanding instruction. What but faith and complete trust in his God could prompt such full and immediate obedience to a request that seemed to threaten every hope and promise so dearly cherished in Isaac his son?
Preparation for the journey fol. lowed. It is instructive to see an application of wisdom in those who would follow the path of faith. “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house.” Prov. 24:2727Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. (Proverbs 24:27). Timothy was told: “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). Abraham’s preparations for his journey speak thus in type of that which is suited to all who would be obedient servants. The heart that is prepared through nearness to God will be better equipped to successfully finish the matter before him, than the one who merely has the desire to do so. Such preparation will best be provided through prayerful and continued feeding on God’s precious Word. A desire to be obedient to God is indeed commendable, but to be truly obedient calls for preparation of heart. Abraham is a lovely example of such preparedness—not only setting about to do God’s conmand, but to do it in such a careful manner that his mission would not he delayed or marred by carelessness.
ML 12/05/1965