When my momma wanted to get my attention, she’d holler, “Mike Scott... you get in here right now!” or worse, “Mike Scott... you wait till your daddy gets home!” I knew from experience that I was in trouble when she used my first and middle names. She knew how to get my attention.
Apparently, Abraham’s momma didn’t give him a middle name, so when God needed to get his attention, He hollered, “Abraham! Abraham!” (Genesis 22:11).
(At least six others in Scripture didn’t have middle names either. Seven times God hollered, repeating a faithful follower’s first name ... Jacob, Moses, Samuel, Martha, Peter, and Paul.)
Four days earlier God had called to Abraham, compelling him to begin an epic adventure of faith!
“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you’ ” (Genesis 22:1-2, ESV).
Wow! What a test! Isaac’s birth had been such an incredible miracle. Abraham had been 100-years-old and Sarah, 90! And now, God was saying this?
“So Abraham rose early in the morning (and) saddled his donkey” (Genesis 22:3, ESV). No hesitation. No arguments. No excuses. They just loaded the minivan and took off! Abraham obeyed God!
Here’s a little side note. Before Abraham could obey God’s voice, he had to know the sound of God’s voice. Like the sheep know the Shepherd’s voice (John 10:4) Abraham knew God’s voice by experience.
For three days they journeyed. Just like Jesus was in the grave for three days, so Isaac was as-good-as dead for those three miserably longs days. Still, Abraham obeyed.
At the foot of Mount Moriah, “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’ ” (Genesis 22:5, ESV). Don’t miss that statement of faith! “We’re goin’ up yonder, but we’ll be back!” Abraham was about to sacrifice his only son, but by faith, he believed that God could “raise him from the dead!” (Hebrews 11:19).
On the hike up the hill, Isaac recognized that they were missing something. “ ‘Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God will provide’ ” (Genesis 22:7-8, ESV). That’s faith! Do you believe that He will provide? “He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think!” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV).
Later, with Isaac on the altar, with Abraham’s right hand lifted and ready to plunge the knife into his son’s heart, at the last possible moment, God intervened. “Abraham! Abraham!” (Genesis 22:11).
Abraham heard God’s gracious announcement. God’s innocent lamb, a substitute sacrifice, was ready and waiting. Isaac lived because the lamb died.
Abraham named the place Jehovah Jireh... The Lord will provide!
Do we know His voice? Do we believe He is able? Do we believe He will?
Does God Almighty have your attention? Is He calling your name?
“Mike Scott!”