In keeping with this months topic of “new thing”, I wanted to briefly touch on patience.
You see, oftentimes when we think of a new thing, or a new year, we think things like
“this year I want to lose weight”
But after sticking to your diet for a week and a half, you cave and go to in-n-out.
“this year I’m really believing for a wife”
But you’re six months in, and you’re still lonelier than Akon in 2009
And if you do this enough, you start to lose confidence, and if we’re honest with ourselves we can even go as far as asking, “God are you really doing anything? Are you strengthening me? Are you really providing?”,
you become impatient.
So I want us to take a look at the scripture, to answer a couple of questions. First, what happens when we’re patient in our situation, and by extension we trust Gods timing.
And why we should be patient.
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 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?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 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.”
Ge 22:5–12. ESV
Your patience is worship
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Ge 22:5–12. ESV
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. Ge 22:5–12. KJV
5 Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I are going over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you. Ge 22:5–12 Message
But what I want us to notice in this verse is two fold,
In every translation, Abraham essentially says, we’re gonna go worship, we’ll be right back.
I think often times we think what Abraham is talking about when he refers to worship is the actual sacrifice.
But he is clearly certain both him and Isaac will return.
So what is his worship?
His trust in the Lord, and his faithful provision.
So why should we be patient in every situation? Because ultimately it is a form of worship, and brings Glory to the Lord.
Infallible trust lead to immediate provision (according to his perfect will)
We saw in verse 5, Abraham was convinced, both he and Isaac would return.
We even saw in verse 8, Abraham assured Isaac that God will provide the lamb.
8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”
Ge 22:8. ESV
How could he have known this?
He couldn’t! He simply trusted in the Lord.
Abraham here is a perfect example of what happens when we completely, surrender our timeline and our desires, in favor of his timeline, and his perfect will. He provides.
And with that I’ll be closing, but just a couple of takeaways before I do,
Be Patient, it demonstrates trust, and ultimately glorifies the Lord.
Infallible trust leads to immediate provision. (according to his perfect will)