Daily Devotion - Genesis 22:13-14 - "Rest" God Is Our Provider

“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” - Augustine

Abraham was a very independent man.

• He was independently wealthy (Genesis 12:5)
• He solved his problems his own way (Genesis 12:10)
• He sold out his wife to save himself (Genesis 12:11-13; 20:-2-11)
• He tried to force God's promise of a child by taking Sarah's servant (Genesis 16:1-3)
• He tried negotiating with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:22-33)

the covenant

In Genesis 15:6, we see that Abraham believed God's promise to Him. Later in verses 9-17, we see God Himself making a sacred covenant with Abraham.

In those days, a pact was made between two people when each party cut their animals and lay them on both sides of a path. The men would then also cut the palms of their hands and walk between the animal pieces, meeting each other in the middle for a final bloody handshake.

Notice, however, that Abraham is in a deep sleep. God is the only One moving in this pact, because He is the only One qualified to move. Even with his wealth, his cunning and his stubbornness, Abraham has nothing good enough to offer God Almighty.

Despite God's promise of a son (15:4) and a large plot of land (15:7), Abraham still trusted in his own wisdom to do things for himself in his own way.

Then God called him out.

He was to take his son - the miraculous son he was promised by God - and sacrifice him on an altar. This would prove to Abraham once and for all who he placed his trust in, who he sought for refuge in times of adversity, where he found his rest.

He stopped the blade when the angel called. That's when he saw the trapped ram, and that's when he knew God was his provider.

Question to consider

What am I placing my trust in today? Am I depending on my own skill and cunning to survive, or am I surrendering all of life to God's perfect plan and obeying, resting in His precious promises to meet all of my needs?

Prayer For Today

Lord Jesus, I know that Your plan for my life is to fully trust in You. I surrender to Your will today. If there is anything I cling to for comfort, help me to lay it at the foot of Your cross. Guide me in Your wisdom and lead me to where You are that I may find true rest in You. Amen