Faith — The Sacrifice - Tuesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Genesis 22:3
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. (NIV)
During my days at the bank, I had the privilege of getting to work with a lot of great customers, but my favorites were often the small business owners.
“Anything fun planned for this weekend, Crystal?” I said, ordering her some checks. Her face looked somewhat exhausted from a long week, with a hint of worry in her eyes.
“Oh gosh, I wish!” she sighed. “We’ve got a wedding this weekend…”
Crystal and her husband, Danny, didn’t normally do weddings. In fact, the small bakery they owned down the street wasn’t even really known for their cakes. But when Danny overheard a young couple at church mention they weren’t having a wedding reception because they couldn’t even afford a cake, he knew what the Lord was leading them to do.
Donating a giant, beautiful wedding cake was a big ask, especially for an exhausted older couple almost a month behind on their mortgage. But they got up the next morning and went to work, trusting God with the rest.
What they didn’t expect was for the young couple to be so moved by their kindness that they would post about it on social media, OR for that post to go viral. Danny and Crystal’s shop didn’t even have Facebook or Instagram, but what they did have was a line out the door on Monday morning…
“Business is better than ever!” Danny chuckled a few weeks later. “All because we just said ‘yes’ to what we knew He was asking us to do. Only God…”
Hear me when I say this is NOT a story about prosperity. As a matter of fact, for those of you who may lean that direction, let me be really clear about something: Trusting in God does not mean He will grow your business. Trusting in God does not mean that He will always bless you financially.
However, when we trust God and leave the consequences to Him, He will often provide in ways we could have never expected.
We aren’t sure based on the text how Abraham immediately responded when God told him to sacrifice his teenage son, Isaac. What we do know is that early that next morning, he got up and went to work. He loaded up his donkey, prepared to do exactly what God said, and when he did, God actually provided.
He provided for Abraham, and He’s continued to provide for Crystal and Danny.
“Who would have thought we would ever be in the wedding cake business?” Crystal laughed.
Only God.
APPLICATION
Take a moment to reflect on how you’ve seen God provide in unexpected ways. Ask Him to reveal how you can provide for someone else in need as a reminder of His love for them.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to trust You today and leave the consequences to You.
