July 2025 Devotions

From the Pastor:

For this month’s devotion, July 2025, we are going to examine Genesis 22.  Set yourself a time for reading each day, pray and seek God’s wisdom in your study, and I think you will find this to be a very beneficial time in God’s Word. 

We must remember in reading Scripture that these things have been recorded for our admonition and learning. (See 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 11)  Abraham was a man, not a supernatural being.  He was a sinner just as are all.  He made his share of mistakes, but he was a man of faith.  According to Romans 4:1-13, Abraham is the spiritual father of all who are justified by faith.  He simply believed God, and God imputed to him for righteousness.  Because of this, there are a great many lessons you are I can glean from examining his life, and especially this one event in the life of the patriarch.  May the Lord enlarge the coasts of our understanding as we delve into this great chapter in Genesis. 

Genesis 22

July 1

Verse 1: And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

“After these things….”  

This chapter begins with an interesting introduction telling us that “God did tempt Abraham.” This tempting was not a solicitation to some evil, but was a testing or a trial.  Thankfully, the “tests” God brings to His own most always come “after these things.”  This test for Abraham came after much time had passed in his faith life.  He had traveled from Ur to Canaan, (Genesis 12:1-4) endured famine, sojourned for a brief period in Egypt, and had actually faltered in some of his earlier tests of faith. (Genesis 12:10-20)  Years passed from the original promise of “seed” and the blessings of a family until that promise had been fulfilled in the birth of Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3)   Abraham had endured struggles with his nephew, Lot, and then had been forced to enter into conflict to free the “vexed” Lot from his captures. (Genesis 13:7-12; 14:1-16) He had prayed over the cities of the plain, only to later observe the smoke of their destruction rising over the plain. (Genesis 18:1-33; 19:27-28)  Through these and others tests Abraham’s faith had developed, had grown and had become more concrete in his life, and it was “after these things” that the supreme test of his faith did come.

All followers of Christ face times of testing of their faith.  James instructs us to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,” or various tests. (James 1:1-8)  These are sent from our loving Heavenly Father that the trying of our faith might work patience, because through this process the Lord will bring us to that place in our lives where our faith will be matured and complete, “wanting nothing.”  It was “after these things” that Abraham’s faith had been developed to the point where he could face this ultimate challenge presented to him in the offering up of Isaac.

Should you find yourself in a time of testing, remember that God is in control of the lives of His own.  He guides our steps, even at times guiding those steps through a valley of trial.  If that is your lot today, child of God, just keep trusting Him and obeying His will for your life.  He will bring you this this difficulty, and you will be more like Him as a result of your trial.

July 2

Verse 2: And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

God was now asking Abraham to do the unthinkable.  It was one thing to ask him to leave comfortable and prosperous Ur to travel to an unknown and sometime inhospitable place called Canaan.  The direction God had taken Abraham in this faith journey had been difficult at times, but this was completely different.  Abraham’s Friend was asking him; no, He was commanding Abraham to take his son for whom he had waited for twenty-five years, the son that he loved with all of his heart and on whom all his hopes of a future posterity was placed and offer him back to God as a burnt offering.  

“Take now thy son…and get thee into the land of Moriah….”  Much debate surrounds this place called “Moriah.”  Where was “Moriah?”  Of all the locations offered by theologians, the “Moriah” where Abraham took Isaac is best identified as that place that would later be chosen to be the location of Solomon’s Temple, the threshing floor of Ornan, purchased by King David for “six hundred shekels of gold.” (1 Chronicles 21:18-26) It would be on that same vein of rock that ran from Ornan’s threshing floor outside the walls of Jerusalem where the Lord Jesus Christ would be offered up on Calvary’s Cross on the hill called Golgotha. (Note 2 Chronicles 3:1-2)

The offering up of Isaac in Genesis 22 is a foreshadowing of the overing up of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.  This story is just another proof that the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus was in the mind and plan of God from the beginning.  Events like this in Genesis 22 were designed by an all-knowing God to prepare Israel and the world for what was ahead, that which had been planned in eternity past.   

July 3

Verse 3: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

In his epic poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote of 670 British soldiers that faithfully responded to orders given to launch an attack against 25,000 Russian soldiers during the Crimean War in 1854.  Of course, these brave soldiers were forced to retreat, suffering an estimated 278 killed or wounded.  This charge has gone down in history as being one of the worst military blunders of all times, but one line in Tennyson’s poem has lived on in infamy.  In the second stanza of the poem, Tennyson wrote the following words, “Theirs not to make reply,Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do and die.” I’m sure you have heard those lines, probably misquoted as follows; “Our’s is not to reason why, our’s is but to do or die.” Although a misquote, that is the message conveyed in Tennyson’s poem.

Abraham’s obedience was of that sort.  If he reasoned with God it was not recorded.  If he questioned God we do not know.  Was his night sleepless?  Did his heart break from God’s command? Did he offer himself in the stead of his son?  We know nothing of the interval between Verse 2 and 3, only what we read of the following words; “And Abraham rose up early in the morning…and went unto the place God had told him.” From what we can know from this passage, Abraham’s obedience was immediate and unwavering. He did as God commanded, most likely not understanding

Beloved, so must our obedience to our Lord be.  A much cherished song says, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”  Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus; “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17)  This came after He had humbly washed His followers feet, but the truth is applicable in all commands given in God’s Word.  “If ye know these things” that are found in the Word of God, things which are given to direct your life and to guide your steps, “happy are ye if ye do them.”  Help me, Father, to be obedient to Your will as revealed in Your Word.  Amen!

July 4

Verse 4: Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

For two days the men and the teenaged boy traveled.  Can you imagine the things that filled Abraham’s mind during those days?  Was he praying silently to the Lord?  Was he playing the coming scene over and again in his mind; the raising of the knife to slay his much beloved son?  If Abraham was human, and we know that he was, then we can know that those two days were filled with much emotion, and perhaps even dread.

On the third day he lifted up his eyes and there it was; the place that the Lord had told him of.  He saw the mount and knew this was where he was to offer up his son.  All of this scene that took place nearly two thousand years before the crucifixion of our Lord was a foreshadowing of that most important event when Almighty God would offer up His Son on the Cross.  Like Abraham, the Father in heaven had viewed this place and this scene from “afar off.” Read the following passages: Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 53:1-12; Revelation 5:6,12; 13:8; 1 Peter 1:19-20.

What did Abraham see?  The place.  He saw the place where Isaac would be offered.  He saw the place where his obedience to God would be fulfilled.  What did the Father see?  He saw the place where His Son would be offered, but He saw so much more.  He saw the actual suffering of His Son.  He saw the bitter hatred of humanity fulfilled in the crucifixion.  He saw the sins of the world being laid on the Sacrificial Lamb of God.  He also saw the place where multiplied millions would find hope, peace and joy; where they could find their Lamb that would take away their sins.  It was this reality that had factored into the eternal plan of God, the place and the Person through which redemption would be provided.  Perhaps the Father even lifted up His eyes to see you and me kneeling at the foot of that Cross to find life through the death, burial and resurrection of His Blessed Son? Amen!

July 5

Verse 5: And Abraham said unto his young. men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Here is Abraham’s faith displayed.  It is displayed first in the fact that, although perhaps confused about the coming events demanded by God, he and his son were going up on the mount to worship God.  Job had that kind of faith.  In an unthinkable time of suffering, Job declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15) When David was being forced to flee from Absalom, in the very heartbreaking time of that fleeing, he worshipped the Lord.  See 2 Samuel 15:17-32.  Watch Paul and Silas in the dungeon after being beaten and fastened in the stocks. See Acts 16:25.  Abraham worshipped God on the mount with Isaac.  We ought to ever worship our Lord in every circumstance life brings our way.

“…and I and the lad will go yonder. and worship, and come again to you.” When Abraham spoke these words he had not yet seen the ram caught in the thickets by its horns.  He had not yet named that mount Jehovahjireh, for at that point he was still planning on slaying his son as a sacrifice to God.  Hebrews 11:19 sheds a little light on this subject.  “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence he also received him in a figure.”  Here is Abraham’s faith.  He and the lad would return from the mount unto the men waiting, for he was convinced that God was going to resurrect his son, Isaac, from the dead. 

By the way, can you see something different in Abraham’s proclamation of faith?  He and his son would depart for a season, but the promise was made to the young men awaiting in the valley below, “we will come again to you.” Two thousand years ago, the Blessed Lord Jesus was offered on the altar of Calvary, buried and then raised back to life again.  He ascended forty days later to be reunited with the Father, but this promise was made, “I will come again to you.” Abraham’s proclamation of faith foreshadowed the precious promise Jesus made to His own, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)  He did go, and He is coming again!  Praise His Name!

July 6

Verse 6: And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

The first time that offerings are mentioned in Scripture is when Cain and Abel brought their offerings to God in the Garden of Eden.  However, an offering is implied in Genesis 3 when God provided the skin of an animal to clothe the naked Adam and Eve after their sin of eating the forbidden fruit.  In that case, God Himself provided the offering.  The first time “burnt offerings” are mentioned is found in Genesis 8 when Noah offered of every clean beast and every clean fowl burnt offerings on the altar he had erected.  Then we come to Genesis 22 and the burnt offering required of Abraham by God in which his son, Isaac, was to be the sacrifice.  All these offerings were long before God gave Moses the law and its requirements of burnt offerings and sacrifices.  

Having read Genesis 22, we understand the purpose God had in mind when He demanded Abraham to offer his son, Isaac.  The question would come to the first time reader of God’s Word as to why God required and accepted such offerings in the first place.  Considering the first sacrifice made, that of an animal to provide clothing for the sinful couple in the Garden, really answers that question.  They had sinned against their Creator.  God had warned before hand, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) Sin brought death, and the death of sacrifices offered were substitutionary.  

In the first 21 chapters of Genesis, God never required a human sacrifice, but He had promised that a day would come when the “seed of the woman” would be bruised in order to liberate sinful humanity from sin’s curse. (Genesis 3:15)  When Abraham was commanded to offer His son, God knew that a substitute would be provided that Isaac might not have to die.  Abraham did not know that.  Consequently, he laid the wood on Isaac’s back, took the fire and knife in hand and proceeded up the mount to the place God had specified for the offering of his son.  Abraham is an illustration of God the Father making preparations for the offering of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the sins of the world.  Beginning in Genesis 2, immediately after the fall in the Garden, God began that journey that would bring Him and His Son to a hill called Golgotha where Jesus would be slain as the Substitutionary Sacrifice for sin.

July 7

Verse 7: And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?  

At this point, it is obvious that Isaac does not know the whole story.  He hasn’t been told all that God has required of Abraham.  This will come, but it is equally obvious that Isaac is informed and understands the process of sacrificial offerings.  How many times had he witnessed Abraham worshipping God through sacrifices and offerings?  How many times had his father explained to him why such offerings were required?  Isaac, perhaps a teenager, fully understands why such offerings are made.  He has been told of the offense of sin, of its separating man from his Creator and of the demands God has made concerning sin and its costs.  

God makes a statement about Abraham in Genesis 18 that is worthy of note.  He said, “…I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and thy shall keep the way of the Lord….” (Genesis 18:19) He had surely taught Isaac about God, encouraging his son to have a personal relationship with Him. He had lived a life of obedience and commitment before Isaac that had been a living example of what a man of faith should be. That is why Isaac understood the process of burnt offerings.

Although the Scripture does not give us the details of a latter discussion concerning the full commands that God had given, when those details were shared, it is certain that Isaac understood that also. What a challenge parents and grandparents have in teaching their children the Word and ways of God! Let’s not shun that duty! It is certain the world never misses and opportunity to try and indoctrinate youth in its ways. Our “Isaacs” must be taught about the Lord and given chance to know and experience Him to the fullest, and much of the responsibility of that happening lies on our shoulders.  May God help us to train up our children in the way that they should go!

July 8

Verse 8: And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

In Psalms 50:7-10 we read the following; “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.  I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.  I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.”  Every creature of earth belongs to the Creator, including all of the animals presented in sacrifice.  In reality, the Lord was ever providing His own sacrifices, allowing those who were bringing them to the Tabernacle or Temple to bring what already belonged to Him.  In that, He was ever providing Himself lambs, bullocks and all other sacrificial animals for offerings.  

While the above is true beyond question, that is not what Abraham was speaking of when he declared to Isaac that God would provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.  While He did not know how it would happen, he had complete confidence that God would provide what was needed.  He always had, and Abraham could well testify to that fact.  Abraham was a believer in where God guides He provides.  And, He always does.  If God requires something of us, He will ever provide the means or the strength or the wisdom to do what is needed.  Abraham believed that, and so must we.

There is yet another thought on Abraham’s affirmation of faith in God providing that day.  Read his words carefully; “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering….”  He did not say, “God will provide for himself a lamb,” but, “God will provide Himself a Lamb.”  Could there not have been a prophetic thought here?  Could he not have been saying, “My son, the day will come that God Himself will be provided as a Lamb for a sacrifice?”  That day came!  Jesus, God Incarnate, provided Himself as a Lamb for a burnt offering for our sins.  Blessed Savior!  Blessed Lamb of God that was slain!  

July 9

Verse 9: And they came to the place which God had told him of….

God told Abraham, “Take now thy son…upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”  Was there more revelation given to Abraham than what we have in these verses?  Did He tell him more than just the general direction to go in order to find the “place?”  Did He describe it?  Was their details given of the mountain’s shape?  Or, of the vegetation there?  Or, did He inform Abraham of what he would find at the top of the mountain?  He told Abraham of the mountain where He was to offer Isaac.

Lynn and I built the house we are living in about 23 years ago.  Everything in it was built for a purpose, and we have thoroughly enjoyed living in it and thank the Lord for it.  Everything that God created He did so for a purpose.  Ultimately, that purpose was for His own honor and glory.  Of course, everything He created was done so with His creatures in mind; air for breathing, water for drinking and vegetation for….  Well, I’m sure you get the idea.  Have you ever thought of this?  When He created the world and everything it it, He had Calvary in mind.  He created the Sun for warmth and light, the moon to light up the night sky and stars to magnify His power and majesty.  He created  the oceans for their particular purpose and the fresh water fountains for theirs.  In all of His creation, He created a mountainous region where He knew someday Jerusalem would be built, and outside that city that would one day be built He prepared a raised piece of ground where His Son would be offered on the altar of Calvary’s cross.  He created the tree that would reproduce itself through the centuries until one day it would produce a seedling that would grow into the tree to which His Son would be nailed.  The place called Calvary was that place to which the Lord was pointing, of which He would speak time and time again throughout the years, where His Son would die for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the entire world.  This is the place God repeatedly told humanity of, and the place we continue to speak of to this very day; the place where our redemption was fully purchased through the sacrifice of our Blessed Redeemer.  “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him….” (Luke 23:33) Praise His Name!  

July 10

Verse 9: “…and Abraham built an altar there….”

They arrived at the top of Moriah.  There was nothing there for building an altar but stones.  So Abraham began stacking up the stones to build an altar.  Years later, God would require such altars to be erected for these purposes.  See Exodus 20:25-26.  How long it took Abraham to stack those stones is not known, but when he had finished the construction, it was time to fulfill God’s command.

Would you please read the following passages?  Genesis 3:15, 21; 22:9; Exodus 12:1-10; 20:24-26; Leviticus 1:1-5; Deuteronomy 12:11.  These are just a few of the many passages found in God’s Word in which the Lord was preparing the altar upon which His Son would be offered, stacking up one stone of preparation upon the other.  He was readying that place in picture, in prophecy and in the hearts of believers where redemption would be provided.  After all the preparation, planning and putting into place the particulars required, Jesus died on the Cross for our sins.  Thank God for that altar He built one stone upon another for us!

July 11 

Verse 9: “…and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son….”

Did you read of Isaac’s complaints to his father, Abraham?  His pleading for mercy?  Did you read an account of his weeping, of his tears and words of agony?  Your thinking, “No preacher, I read nothing of the kind in this account.  Not even implied!”  Neither did I, for there were no such words spoken.  Isaac quietly submitted to his father’s will, surrendering to the knife and the altar.  

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) When a shearer is shearing sheep, he grabs the struggling animal and lifts it up and sits it upon its backside with its legs sticking straight out from its body, and when he does this the sheep instantly calms.  It almost seems lifeless and limp, silent and submissive to the shearer’s task.  The prophet declared that the Lamb of God would quietly and submissively surrender to the Father’s will in His suffering.  Isaac foreshadowed that in his quiet submission to Abraham, and to God’s will for his life.  That, by the way, took a great deal of faith on the part of Isaac. 

In all of the proceedings leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, He was silent and submissive.  He wasn’t surprised by any of the activities.  He had seen these, ordained these in eternity past.  Before the actual events He had said, “     

July 12 

Verse 9: “…and laid him on the altar upon the wood.”

When I read this I can see in my mind our Lord laying Himself down on the altar of the cross, fully surrendering to the Father’s will as did Isaac.  This is certainly pictured in this scene, but consider the difference in the two events.  Isaac had not been mocked and ridiculed.  He had not been spat upon or smitten by cruel hands.  Isaac had not been scourged until the very point of death.  There was no crown of thorns that pierced his brow.  According to Isaiah’s prophecy, by the time Jesus laid down on the cross to be fastened there mercilessly, He was hardly recognizable as a man. (Isaiah 52:13-14) The crucifixion of Jesus is there to be seen in the offering of Isaac, but the actual event was far different, much more heart wrenching.  

      Isaac submitted to his father, but most likely did not understand the significance of that which was happening.  Jesus knew from eternity past all that He was facing long before laying Himself down on the cross.  He “endured“ that, “despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:1-2) so that we might be saved and brought into eternal oneness with the Father.  The scene of Genesis was a foreshadowing of our Lord’s suffering for us.  Praise His holy name for enduring such in our stead!  Amen!

July 13

Verse 10: And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

We read the following about Abraham in Romans 4:11, “And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed to them also.”  He is known as the spiritual father of all who are justified by their faith.  In Romans 4:3 we read, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”  He was justified by his faith!  You will never see a greater demonstration of that faith than that which is seen in Genesis 22:10.  Abraham traveled with Isaac to Moriah, prepared the altar for a burnt sacrifice, then reached for the knife and made ready to do the unthinkable; slay his son to be offered to God on that altar.  He fully intended to go through with that for which he had been making preparation.

There is another statement made about this same event that reveals Abraham’s tremendous faith.  In Hebrews 11:19, it is said that Abraham believed that God was going to raise Isaac from the dead.  He did intend to slay Isaac, trusting that God would raise that boy from the dead.  Think about this, all of the promises God had made to Abraham concerning his future family and the nation that would rise from that family were made through his son, Isaac; “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” (Genesis 21:12)  The death of that son would end that promise immediately, so in order for God’s promise to see fulfillment, He would have to resurrect Isaac from the dead.  Abraham so believed God’s promises, He was convinced that his son would be miraculously raised after being offered on Moriah.  That was faith!

It was also a foreshadowing of the resurrection of the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ.  All of the promises of God concerning salvation were found in the Person and work of our Savior.  His death on the cross was essential for our sins, but His resurrection from the dead was essential for our justification. (Romans 4:25)  Isaac illustrates this perfectly!  Thank God for the promises of God that are found in our blessed Redeemer’s death, burial and resurrection.

July 14

Verse 11:  And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham….

There are a couple of theological terms in Bible study that are very important and significant.  It is the words, “Theophany” and “Christophany.”  A “Theophany” is an appearance of God in the Bible.  A “Christophany” is a preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ in Scripture.  Jesus said in John 1:18, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”  Therefore, a “Theophany” and a “Christophany” really speak of the same thing, an appearance of Jesus Christ during the Old Testament era, prior to His birth in Bethlehem.  There are several instances where the Lord thus appeared in human form to Old Testament saints.  He was referred to as “the angel of the Lord,” but it readily becomes obvious that these appearances were of more than just an angel, as amazing as that itself was.  One such incident is found when the Lord appeared to Moses in Exodus 3:1-22.  This “angel of the Lord” was a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus.  Another incident is found in Genesis 18 when three angelic beings appeared to Abraham.  One of these was the Lord; “And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre….”

In our verse today, and the following verses we will examine, it quickly becomes clear that this was the Lord speaking to Abraham atop Moriah when the patriarch was about to offer his son as a burnt sacrifice.  This is the same One that appeared to him in Ur, making promise of a future “Seed,” and the blessings that would pass upon all because of that “Seed.”  Here is an interesting thought: the One Who made the promise of a “Seed” was Himself the fulfillment of that promise; He is the “Seed” through Whom all families of the earth would be blessed.  And another interesting thought is that when Abraham said that God would provide Himself a lamb for a sacrifice, the “angel of the Lord” appearing to him would be that Lamb; “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.”  This “Christophany,” this preincarnate appearance of Jesus Christ at this very point in time is tremendously significant, for this entire scene on Moriah was a foreshadowing of the offering of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.  

July 15

Verse  11:  …and he said, Here am I.

Will you allow me to read between the lines a bit?  “…and he said, Here am I.  I am right here where you sent me.  I am right here where you told me to go, and I am in the process of doing exactly what you told me to do.”  Now, will you allow me to follow up on that just a bit with a few questions: Are we where we are supposed to be?  Are we busily fulfilling God’s will for our lives, in that place of service to which He has called us?  On any given day, can we be found in the arena of the will of God doing that which pleases Him?

  The Lord asked Adam once, “Where art thou?”  Understand this, the Lord knew exactly where Adam was.  He knew all that had happened.  Did Adam know where he was?  Did he know how far removed he was from God because of sin?  Did he understand how far he had fallen, and all that was lost because of that fall?  God wasn’t asking Adam where he was in order to find him, He was asking Adam so that Adam might understand just exactly where he was.

If the Lord called out my name today and said, “Steve,” would I be able to reply, “Here am I, Lord, right exactly where You should ever be able to find me.”  I certainly hope that I would be able to answer that call, “I’m not out there in the pig sty feeding myself on the husks as the prodigal.”  I would like to think I could reply, “I’m not threshing out my wheat in hiding from the enemies of the Lord.” (Judges 6:11)  I’d like to think that if He called me like He did Abraham, he would find me in the center of His will for my life.

July 16

Verse 12: “And he said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”  

When we began this chapter, we read that “God did tempt Abraham….”  We noted that this was not a solicitation to commit evil, but a time of testing or trial.  Verse 12 sounds out clearly that Abraham had gone through the trial, and had passed this time of testing.  He had obeyed God and had made all the preparations for the offering of Isaac, and he would have performed the sacrifice had God not intervened.  Praise His Name for intervening. 

Note something that is said in Verse 12; “…for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son….”  Would you think about that statement for a moment?  Did God learn something from this trial?  When it was over, did the Lord know more about Abraham that He did before the trial?  The Apostle Peter said something to the Lord Jesus once that its worthy of consideration.  He said, “Lord, thou knowest all things….”  We believe that, do we not?  We read in Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”  The Lord spoke the following words as recorded in Isaiah 46:9-10; “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure….”  God knew the results of this time of testing for Abraham long before He gave him the command to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice.  

Times of testing and trial are not for God’s benefit, but for ours.  Trials strengthen and refine the faith of the tried.  James 1:2-4 declares, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  When Abraham came back down that mountain of testing, he came down a stronger believer than when he went up.  His faith had been through the refiner’s fire, and had been purified and strengthened through that crucible of testing.  Child of God, the Lord never longs to harm you in times of testing, only to make you to be more like Him.  May He ever help us to go through times of testing fully trusting and obeying Him in all things.  Amen!   

July 17

Verse 13: “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns….”

For today’s devotion, please examine the following passages.  Enough room will be left for you to write your own commentary on this passage.  See Genesis 22:7-8; Exodus 12:3-5; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18-19.

July 18

Verse 13: “…and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

Look carefully at the phrase, “in the stead of his son.”  God had provided Himself a lamb for a sacrifice, and that lamb took Isaac’s place on the altar and was sacrificed in his “stead.”  Compare this with the following passages: Romans 5:8; Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:16.  We often refer to the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.  What we mean by this is that in Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross, He was taking the place of the sinner just as He took the place on Golgatha that day that had been planned for Barabbas. (Matthew 27:26) 

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Exodus 18:20)  However, Jesus knew no sin, neither was their any type of deceit or dishonesty in His glorious Person.  His death on Calvary was the death of the only totally innocent man that had ever lived, but it was substitutionary.  He died in our “stead,” in our place; substituting Himself for us that we might be pardoned of all our transgressions.  In that substitution of the “ram” for Isaac, we see a glorious picture of the offering of the Son of God for us.  Thank God for the “Lamb” that was provided!

July 19

Verse 14: “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh….”

There are many names provided in Scripture for our God.  Abraham named the place of the sacrifice on Mount Moriah “Jehovahjireh,” which is acknowledged as a name given, not only to that place, but to God Himself.  It is a compound name as can be seen using the name, Jehovah.  Added to that base name, Jehovah, which means “the existing one,” was the word “Jireh.”  This word means “will see,” or “will see to it.”  The thought in this compound name is “Jehovah will see to it and provide that which is required.”  

God saw the need for a lamb to be offered in Isaac’s stead, and He provided exactly what was needed.  Has He not continually done the same throughout His dealings with humanity.  Think about the provisions He made for Israel as they traveled through the wilderness.  Did He not provide for them their every need?  Has He not promised to do the very same thing for all who believe?  “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) His greatest provision was that of our “Lamb” who took our place on Calvary.  He truly is “Jehovahjireh.”  What do you need today, child of God?  Trust Him!  He is “Jehovahjireh.”

July 20

Verse 14: “…as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”

Can you see this as a prophecy?  Compare the following passages: Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1.  The “mount” became the place where Solomon built the Temple.  It was there that God met with Israel, accepting their sacrifices and their worship.  It was just outside that Temple that the Lord Jesus was tried and condemned to die on the cross; again, just outside that Temple where countless offerings foreshadowed His great sacrifice on Calvary.  Now, consider the last thing we read in Verse 14; “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”  And, it was; and is!  

What is “seen?”  It is clearly visible to all that on Calvary the Lord provided what all humanity so desperately needs; “a Lamb for a sacrifice!”  Here can be seen the great love that God has for all mankind, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  The scene on the mount clearly proves that “The Lord…is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)  God has provided!  Have you taken advantage of His gracious provision?

July 21

Verse 15-17 “And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou has done this thing, and has not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, as as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies….”

Compare this with Genesis 12:1-3; the Abrahamic Covenant.  What we have in these verses is an affirmation of the covenant God made with Abraham earlier.  When God originally made that covenant, Abraham was childless, but here God is affirming that Abraham has become the father, not just of Isaac, but of a great nation.  We know that nation to be the nation of Israel.  When the family of Jacob went down to Egypt during the time of famine, there were seventy-five souls total in that number. (Acts 7:14)  When they left Egypt 430 years later, there was between 2 and 3 million made their way into the wilderness following Moses, the man of God.  This ancient nation has continued to exist to this day, and we continue to see the blessings of God that were promised to their father, Abraham. 

As I am writing these words, Israel has been in a military conflict on several fronts.  They have fought in Gaza following the atrocious attack launched against them on October 7, 2023.  Along with members of Hamas, they have fought against Hezbollah whose rockets have continually be fired into Israel in support of Hamas.  Then Israel attacked Iran in an effort to thwart their efforts to build nuclear weapons that would undoubtedly be used against God’s chosen people.  At the time of this writing, there seems to be a “cease fire” between Israel and Iran due to efforts of America’s president.  In light of all that is going on in our world today surrounding Israel, it must be remembered that the promise God made to Abraham is still in effect in our time.  The descendants of Abraham through Isaac are still God’s chosen people, and are still the recipients of the blessings bestowed upon their father many centuries ago.  God is faithful to His Word, and this is proven in His dealings with and for Israel.  

July 22

Verse 18 “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed….”

Please read the following passages: Genesis 12:1-3; 15:5; 17:5-6; 18:18; 26:3-5; 28:10-14; 35:10-11.  Along with these passages, carefully consider Galatians 3:13-16; 4:1-7.  

In what ways have all the nations of the earth been blessed through Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant?

July 23

Verse 18 “…because thou hast obeyed my voice.” 

Do you love the Lord?  How does one reveal his or her love for the Lord?  Let’s let the Lord Jesus answer that question: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)  “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:9-10)  “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

When Jesus spoke of His “commandments,” He wasn’t referring to the Ten Commandments.  He was speaking of all His revealed will through His Word, the Holy Bible.  If we truly love Him, we will honor and obey His Word and His will for our lives.  The Holy Spirit helps us to understand those portions of God’s Word that are applicable to us in this dispensation, and through His guidance and power He will enable us to align ourselves to that Word.  The bottom line is that our actions speak much louder than our words, and to say we love the Lord must be demonstrated by our obedience to Him.  Through this we honor Him and boldly declare our love for Him.  May He help us to do just that!

July 24

Verse 19: “So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”

Here is Abraham’s reward for his faith; his returning unto his young men.  You will remember what he said to those “young men” when leaving for Moriah; “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”  He was confident that both he and Isaac would be returning, even if God had to raise the “lad” from the dead. (Hebrews 11:19)

What is “faith?”  Faith is simply believing that what God has promised, He is able to perform and will perform.  We read of Abraham in Romans 4:20-21, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”  Beloved, faith is believing that what God has said, He will do.  If you are saved, you are saved because God promised if you would trust His Son as your Savior, He would forgive you of all your sins and make you His very own child.  He has promised to keep you after you trusted Christ for salvation.  Jesus prayed, “…those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost….” (John 17:12)  Faith is simply believing this promise.  He has promised to come back for us, to receive us unto Himself, that where He is we can be also. (See John 14:1-3)  Faith is believing He is coming again, and that we are going to be called up to be with Him forever!  Amen!  There are many promises our Lord has made to us as His own, and every single promise can be fully trusted, for it will be fulfilled.  Thank God for His promises, and for the faith He has enabled us to have in His precious Word. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

July 25

For this final week of July, for our devotions let’s spend these seven days reading through the Book of Romans.  Below is a reading guide for each day to take us through this most important New Testament Book.

Friday, July 25th:  Romans 1 - 2

Saturday, July 26th:  Romans 3-4

Sunday, July 27th:  Romans 5-6

Monday, July 28th:  Romans 7-8

Tuesday, July 29th: Romans 9-10

Wednesday, July 30th:  Romans 11-13

Thursday, July 31st:  Romans 14-16