Fit For Service (Part 4a -Abraham)

This is week three in our study on being fit for service. Today we will be looking at the life of Abraham to see what made him fit for service and usable by God. 

As I studied the life of Abraham, I discovered seven things that made him fit for service. We will divide this lesson into two parts, part A today and part B next week. There is too much good stuff to rush! 

First, Abraham had active faith in God. 

Abraham’s first demonstration of faith is found in Genesis 12. In verse one we read God’s instructions to Abraham. Genesis 12:1, The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” (NLT) In Genesis 12:4-5 we read, So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. (NLT) Abram left all he knew to obey God. His faith in God was so strong that he set out with no idea where he was going, what he would encounter, or what his future would hold. All he had was God’s promise that He would make Abraham a great nation! 

Abraham’s second demonstration of faith is found in Genesis 22. A little background. God had promised Abraham before he left Haran that he would become a great nation.  This was a promise that Abraham had staked his life on. However, at the age of 85 he still had no children.  So, Abraham and Sarah tried to do God’s job for Him and Abraham and Sarah’s maid Hagar had a son, Ishmael, however, God told Abraham that Ishmael was not the son of the promise. It was not for another 15 years, when Abraham was 100 years old, that Issac, the promised child, was born. 

Genesis 22:1-2, Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. 

“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (NLT) 

Without any further explanation, the request is made in three simple imperatives: "Take," "go," and "sacrifice him."i 

Genesis 22:3-6 detail Abraham’s preparation, while giving us no commentary on Abraham’s thoughts or feelings. In verse 7 we read that Isaac broke the silence he had endured on the journey from home to the mountain of God by stating the obvious, we have wood and fire, but where is the sacrifice?  

Abraham’s profound answer is recorded in Genesis 22:8, “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son.” (NLT) 

Abraham's words cast a new light on his silence. Amid the anguish that can be read into his silence emerges a confidence in the Lord who will provide. Abraham's words are not merely an attempt to calm the curious Isaac but are a settled expression of his trust in God.ii 

Hebrews 11:17-19, It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. (NLT) 

Romans 4:3, For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” (NLT) 

Secondly, Abraham demonstrated instant obedience.  

As we saw in the previous two examples from Abraham’s life, Abraham was obedient to the voice of God, however, I want us to look at two specific verses that demonstrate Abraham’s instant obedience.  

Genesis 12:4a, So Abram departed [in faithful obedience] as the Lord had directed him. (AMP) 

Here we see that Abraham did not hesitate, he did not make excuses about why it was not a good time for him to leave, he did not ask for a road map or a detailed account of the trip, he departed as the Lord directed him!  

And again, in Genesis 22: 3, So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and his son Isaac; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and then he got up and went to the place of which God had told him. (AMP) 

If leaving his family was hard, how much more difficult was it to obey the Lord’s instructions this time? Yet, we read that again, without delay, without excuses, without argument or complaint, Abraham got up early in the morning and headed to the mountain.  

When we are asked by an earthly authority to do something, sometimes the better part of wisdom is to stop and determine if it is the right thing to do. Does it align with the Word? Will it bring harm or blessing to myself or others? Why am I being asked to do this? What is the motivation behind this request?  

However, when it comes to the obeying God, delayed obedience is disobedience. God always has our best interest at heart. He will never ask us to do something that is contrary to His written Word. Yes, He might sometimes ask us to do something that feels hard or even risky, however, as in the example of the sacrifice of Isaac, God’s ways are not our ways, and He works all things for our good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) 

Our obedience reflects our faith and trust in God. If we know He is working for our good, if we truly believe He loves us and wants the best for us, then we like Abraham, must obey His voice the moment He speaks. We cannot take time to rationalize it all out, come up with alternatives, or devise a game plan. We must step out in the direction He is leading and trust that He will guide our steps along the way. He will not call us unless He already knows how He will lead, guide, and provide.  

When we allow ourselves to delay obeying His voice, we are opening the door for the enemy to deceive us and to rob us of the blessings God has intended for us.  Not only was Abraham rewarded for his obedience, but his obedience brought us the blessing of salvation through Christ, who was of the seed of Abraham!!!  

We might never know whose life is impacted by our obedience; however, according to Romans 8:28, And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. (AMP) (Emphasis mine) 

Third, Abraham was unselfish. 

As we saw in the beginning of this lesson, when Abraham left Haran, he took with him his wife, all his possessions, servants, cattle, sheep, etc. He also took along his nephew Lot and all of Lot’s family, servants, and possessions.  

In Genesis 13 we read that due to the vastness of Abraham’s and Lot’s households, disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot because there was not enough pastureland to sustain all the animals.  

Even though Abraham was the elder and could have made the decision about who took what portion of the land, we read in Genesis that he acted unselfishly.  Genesis 13:8-9, Finally, Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” (NLT)  

As we continue reading in verses 10-11, Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. (NLT) 

Abraham unselfishly allowed Lot to choose the most fertile portion of the land for himself. As we will see in next week's study, Lot’s selfish choice put him in a bad position and ultimately cost him everything. Abraham, however, was blessed by God. Genesis 13:14-16 tells us that, after Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” (NLT)  

How often does God ask us to give of our time, resources, or talents to bless others? When we walk in unselfish love toward others, using what God has given us for His glory, He not only uses us to bless them, but He also blesses us beyond anything we can even imagine.  

This week we have looked at three characteristics of Abraham that made him fit for God’s service. He had active faith in God, he demonstrated instant obedience, and he was unselfish.  

Lord, this week I ask you to speak to each of our hearts and help us to willingly allow Holy Spirit to identify the areas in our life that do not line up with your character. Cleanse us and make us, like Abraham, fit for Your service! 

Works Cited:

i Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament Copyright 2004. 

ii Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament Copyright 2004.