“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and HIS WAYS PAST FINDING OUT!” (Rom. 11:33)
“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the LEAST of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would KEEP THE OATH which He swore to your Abraham, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from Egypt, the house of bondage…” (Deut. 7:7-8)
The LORD told Abraham, “Get out of your country…I will make you a GREAT NATION; I will BLESS YOU And make your name great; And in you ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.” (Gen. 12:1-3)
Why did God do all this for Abraham? “…God TESTED ABRAHAM’S FAITH. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah (this is where Jesus was crucified). Go and SACRIFICE HIM as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Gen. 22:1-2) Remember God’s ways are, “PAST FINDING OUT!” God was about to do something that would affect the whole human race and He wanted to make sure Abraham would be faithful. “…Abraham got up early, saddled his donkey and took his son, Isaac…he chopped wood for a fire and set out for the place…So Abraham placed the wood on Isaac’s shoulders, he himself carried the fire and the knife…Isaac said, “Father? We have the fire and the wood, but where is the sheep?” “God will provide Abraham answered.” (Gen. 22:3-8) Abraham trusted God to take care of his son because, “God told Abraham, “Isaac is the son through whom my promise WILL BE FULFILLED.” (Gen. 21:12) “…Abraham built an altar and placed the wood, ready for the fire, and then tied Isaac and laid him on the altar over the wood. And Abraham took the knife and lifted it up to plunge it into his son…At that moment the Angel of God shouted to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham! Lay down the knife; don’t hurt the lad,” the Angel said, “for I KNOW THAT GOD IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE—you have not withheld even your beloved son from me.” (Gen. 22:9-12)
Because of this, God made a promise to Israel saying, “Surely in blessing I will BLESS YOU, and in multiplying I will MULTIPLY YOU…God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” (Heb. 6:14 17-18)
Some people say that God has forsaken Israel bit listen to what God says, “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I BRING BACK (May 14th 1948) the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (In Israel); And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of MY PEOPLE, MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham