Obedience is a word I just can’t escape lately. It comes up at the most inopportune times and stretches me in uncomfortable ways. In scripture, obedience, to me, is best personified through Abraham. Even before his name was changed from Abram, he willingly followed this God along unknown paths to places that he’d never been and trusted Him for things that seemed beyond impossible. Abraham’s life was changed, stretched even, in ways that he could have never foreseen at the start. Over the last week I have began to study six of the names of God using the S.O.A.P. method and an outline from LoveGodGreatly.com, with a few dear women in my area. I’d like to share a little along my journey.

“So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him…Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.” Genesis 12:4 NLT From the time Abraham was seventy-five years old, he began to follow the direction of the Lord. Moving to an unknown place, fleeing to Egypt, separating from Lot, rescuing Lot, pleading on behalf of the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah, waiting for the promise, holding and then sending away his firstborn son. Then God changed his name and the promised son arrived, nearly twenty five years from his first act of obedience to God. What was to come next was a stretch I can’t even imagine.

After years of obedience, Abraham had received the one thing he had desired of God, an heir – a son. Isaac brought laughter and happiness to his parents. Yet here Abraham was receiving instructions from God for he and his boy to go and worship. To hear something like, “Abraham, get up in the morning and take Isaac, your sacrifice, to the place I’ll point out and offer him to me there.” There are no words. I can’t imagine that I’d be able to keep that to myself. The shock, grief, despair even. However, I can find none of that in the text. Abraham had full confidence that in his obedience the Lord would honor him. The Lord, who so faithfully promised Abraham an heir all those years ago, would not break his promise. Abraham had faith and because of it was declared righteous. Once again, he held on to that faith and listened for the voice of the Lord.

In his obedience Abraham found God to be the One who will see it and provide. It being the very thing of which we have need. And he was so right. That day on the mountain God did something for Abraham, for Isaac. He provided a substitutionary sacrifice. Abraham was willing to give his desires back to the God alone who could fulfill them.

In our modern-day, instant-access, microwave society, we know little about waiting. Little about drawn out obedience. We look for God to evolve with our changing pace, changing cultures. He doesn’t change. For over twenty five years Abraham waited on the Lord. He was impatient at times, making poor choices thinking he could help God out. Living in turmoil and grief because of his actions. Still he had faith the Lord would provide. And God is faithful.

As I studied this week, there were a few things that stood out:

• The supply for our needs, our desires even, does not come from a place; it comes through the person of Jesus Christ.
• God is always before us, prepared to open our eyes and reveal Himself as we humbly walk in faith.
• God wasn’t looking for a sacrifice, He provided that Himself. He was looking for a willing, obedient heart…which He found in Abraham.

My challenge is to walk drawn out obedience in faith, humbly with my God.