Faith, Trust, and God's Covenant: Abraham's Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as Trusting God’s Promises

Faith means treating God as reliable, believing that He will faithfully and lovingly keep His promises even when circumstances seem impossible. Abraham’s journey was marked by a series of divine promises—land, descendants, and blessing for all nations—culminating in the ultimate test of his willingness to trust God above all else. This trust was not blind, but rooted in a relationship where Abraham knew God’s character and faithfulness. In moments of uncertainty, faith is not about having all the answers, but about holding fast to the One who does, trusting that God’s plan is always for good, even when we cannot see the outcome. [09:00]

Genesis 22:15-18 (ESV)
And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust God’s promises more deeply, even when the outcome is uncertain or the path is unclear?

Day 2: The Gift and Responsibility of Free Will

God’s divine dream for humanity is always for good, but He grants us the freedom to choose—our words, our actions, our beliefs—all of which shape our lives and the world around us. This gift of free will means that our choices matter deeply, not only for ourselves but for others, and for the unfolding of God’s purposes in the world. Each day, we are invited to participate in God’s ongoing creation, to choose love, compassion, and justice, or to turn away. God’s guidance is ever-present, but He never forces our hand; instead, He honors our freedom, inviting us to respond in faith and obedience. [12:29]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”

Reflection: What is one choice you can make today that reflects God’s dream for your life and the lives of those around you?

Day 3: Obedience as the Outward Expression of Faith

Obedience is where our visible actions and our inward relationship with God are knit together, revealing the depth of our faith. Abraham’s willingness to obey God, even in the hardest test, was not just about following a command but about demonstrating his trust in God’s character and promises. True obedience flows from a heart that knows and loves God, and it is in these moments—when we choose God’s way over our own—that we experience peace, purpose, and the growth God desires for us. Obedience is not about perfection, but about aligning our lives with God’s will, trusting that He will provide and fulfill His promises. [19:37]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”

Reflection: Is there an area where God is calling you to obey, even if it is difficult or costly? What step can you take today to respond in faith?

Day 4: The Power of Example—Passing Faith to Others

The most valuable gift we can give to those around us, especially our children and grandchildren, is to show them unwavering trust in God, regardless of our circumstances. Isaac learned to trust God by witnessing Abraham’s faith in action, and so too do others learn from our example. Our steadfastness in faith, especially in times of trial, becomes a living testimony that God is reliable and that no problem is unsolvable for Him. Even when those around us do not share our beliefs, our consistent trust in God can inspire hope, courage, and faith in their own journeys. [20:38]

2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV)
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

Reflection: Who in your life is watching your faith journey? How can you intentionally model trust in God for them today?

Day 5: God’s Faithfulness in Our Failures

Though we will inevitably fail—just as Abraham, Moses, and David did—God’s faithfulness never fails. Our story is woven into God’s ongoing story of restoration and forgiveness, where every failure is met with the possibility of new beginnings. God calls us to trust not in our own strength or perfection, but in His mercy and the teachings of Jesus: love, peace, compassion, and forgiveness. The blessing promised to Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and it is through Him that we find hope, restoration, and the assurance that God’s promises endure. [23:06]

John 1:29 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Reflection: When you reflect on your own failures, how can you receive God’s forgiveness and step forward in hope, trusting in His unfailing faithfulness?

Sermon Summary

The story of Abraham and Isaac is one of the most challenging and profound narratives in all of scripture. It confronts us with the reality that God, after finally granting Abraham and Sarah the long-awaited son, asks Abraham to offer that very son as a sacrifice. This request is not arbitrary; it is set within the context of a covenant—a partnership between God and Abraham, built on promises and conditions. God’s promises to Abraham were not just for him, but for all nations, and the fulfillment of these promises hinged on Abraham’s faith and obedience.

Faith, in this context, is not simply belief but treating God as reliable, trusting that God will lovingly and faithfully keep His promises. Abraham’s journey is marked by a progression: a call, a promise, a covenant, and finally, a test. Each step deepens the relationship between God and Abraham, culminating in a moment where Abraham’s outward actions and inward trust are united. The test is not just about Abraham’s love for God versus his love for Isaac, but about the very future of God’s covenant with humanity.

Yet, even as God’s plan unfolds, we are reminded that free will is woven into the fabric of creation. God does not coerce obedience; instead, He invites us to participate in His divine dream—a world where all are blessed, where no one is harmed or diminished. Our choices, both individual and collective, shape the world we inhabit. God’s dream is always for good, but He honors our freedom to say “no thank you.”

Abraham’s faith was not blind; it was rooted in knowledge of God’s character and promises. He trusted that God would provide, even when the situation seemed impossible. Isaac, too, learned to trust by witnessing his father’s faith. This legacy of trust is perhaps the greatest gift we can offer to those around us: a steadfast reliance on God, regardless of circumstances.

We will face our own tests—moments where we must choose between trusting God or relying on ourselves. The size of our faith is less important than the One in whom we place it. Though we may fail, as Abraham, Moses, and David did, God’s faithfulness never fails. We are invited into God’s ongoing story, a story that always leaves room for restoration and forgiveness. Let us trust in the teachings of Jesus—love, compassion, generosity, and welcome—and remember that the blessing of all nations has been fulfilled in Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith as Trust in God’s Reliability Faith is not merely intellectual assent or emotional feeling; it is treating God as utterly reliable, believing that He will keep His promises even when circumstances seem impossible. Abraham’s willingness to trust God with what was most precious to him demonstrates a faith that is rooted in relationship and knowledge of God’s character, not in certainty about outcomes. [09:00]
2. The Power and Responsibility of Free Will God’s divine dream for creation is always for good, but He honors the freedom He has given us. Our choices—words, actions, and beliefs—shape not only our own lives but the world around us. The story of Abraham reminds us that God’s purposes are worked out in partnership with human freedom, and that our decisions have real and lasting consequences. [12:29]
3. Obedience as the Union of Outward Action and Inward Trust True obedience is not mere compliance but the integration of our visible actions with our inward trust in God. Abraham’s test was not just about what he would do, but about who he trusted. When our actions and our faith are knit together, we experience the peace and assurance that come from being exactly where God wants us to be. [17:29]
4. The Legacy of Faith for Future Generations Isaac’s trust was shaped by witnessing Abraham’s faith. Our steadfast trust in God, especially in difficult circumstances, becomes a living testimony to those around us—children, grandchildren, friends, and even those who do not share our beliefs. The most valuable inheritance we can offer is a life that consistently points to God’s faithfulness, regardless of the challenges we face. [20:38]
5. God’s Story is One of Restoration and Unfailing Faithfulness Though we, like Abraham and others before us, will fail at times, God’s faithfulness endures. We are invited into a story that is not always beautiful, but always open to restoration, forgiveness, and new beginnings. Our hope is not in our own perfection, but in the God who never fails and who has fulfilled His promise to bless all nations through Christ.

** [23:06]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Gospel Reading: The Lamb of God
[02:00] - Opening Prayer
[03:00] - Wrestling with the Idea of God’s Tests
[06:08] - The Covenant Context of Abraham’s Test
[07:41] - God’s Promises and Covenants with Abraham
[08:22] - The First Covenant and Its Implications
[09:00] - Blessing for All Nations Through Abraham
[11:27] - Free Will and Its Impact on Destiny
[12:29] - Our Choices and God’s Divine Dream
[13:38] - Abraham’s Test: Love for God or Isaac
[15:00] - The Stakes of Abraham’s Choice
[16:22] - Deepening Our Encounters with God
[17:29] - Obedience and Human Growth
[19:37] - Abraham’s Faith and God’s Promises
[20:38] - The Legacy of Trust: Abraham and Isaac
[23:06] - Restoration, Forgiveness, and Christ’s Fulfillment
[24:02] - Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 22:1-19 (ESV) — > 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.” ... But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” ... And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

John 1:29 (ESV) — > The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Observation Questions

In Genesis 22, what specific command does God give to Abraham, and how does Abraham respond?
According to the sermon, what is the significance of God’s covenant with Abraham, and how does it relate to the test Abraham faces? [[06:08]]
In John 1:29, what title does John the Baptist give to Jesus, and how does this connect to the story of Abraham and Isaac?
What does the sermon say about the role of free will in God’s relationship with Abraham and with us? [[12:29]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon describes faith as “treating God as reliable.” How does Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac show this kind of faith, and how is it different from just believing something in your head? [[09:00]]
The preacher says that God’s dream is always for good, but He honors our freedom to say “no thank you.” What does this suggest about the way God works in the world and in our lives? [[12:29]]
The story of Abraham and Isaac is described as a test not just of Abraham’s love for God, but of the future of God’s covenant with humanity. Why is this test so important for everyone, not just Abraham? [[15:00]]
The sermon mentions that Isaac learned to trust God by watching Abraham’s faith. What does this say about the way faith is passed on or witnessed by others? [[20:38]]

Application Questions

The sermon says that faith is not just a feeling or belief, but treating God as reliable even when things seem impossible. Can you think of a situation in your life right now where you are being asked to trust God with something precious to you? What would it look like to treat God as reliable in that situation? [[09:00]]
God’s dream is for a world where all are blessed and no one is harmed or diminished, but He gives us the freedom to choose. Are there choices you are making—big or small—that either help or hinder God’s dream in your family, workplace, or community? [[12:29]]
The sermon talks about obedience as the union of outward action and inward trust. Is there an area where your actions and your trust in God are not lining up? What is one step you could take this week to bring them together? [[17:29]]
Isaac’s trust was shaped by seeing Abraham’s faith. Who is watching your faith right now—children, friends, coworkers? What kind of legacy are you leaving for them by the way you trust (or struggle to trust) God? [[20:38]]
The preacher reminds us that we will fail, just like Abraham, Moses, and David did, but God’s faithfulness never fails. Is there a failure or regret in your life that you need to bring to God for restoration and forgiveness? What would it look like to accept God’s ongoing invitation to start again? [[23:06]]
The sermon encourages us to trust in the teachings of Jesus—love, compassion, generosity, and welcome. Which of these do you find most challenging to live out right now, and what is one practical way you could practice it this week? [[23:06]]
When you face a test or challenge, do you tend to rely more on yourself or on God? What is one thing you could do differently the next time you are tested to help you trust God more fully? [[19:37]]

Sermon Clips

I have to be honest I've always cringed when I hear people say that God is testing them knowing the loving nature of God I've always done my best to negate the idea I shouldn't say always that's a bold word I try to do my best to negate the idea that God would test even one of the children that he's lovingly created but here it is black and white written in scripture after finally giving abraham and sarah the son he'd promised god tested abraham why why would god test abraham in such a way that would call him to sacrifice the blessing that he had repeatedly cried out to god for the blessing that god had repeatedly promised to grant the blessing that had finally been given after he and sarah waited so long a blessing which at times as we know through the birth of ishmael he had given up on basically and thought he would take matters into his own hands the child that came only through god's promise a promise initiated by god's own self was now being asked to be sacrificed [00:04:40]

Faith being the vital element here. Faith meaning to treat God as reliable, to trust God, believing that God will faithfully and lovingly keep his promises and honor the obligations he has made to his creation. How easily we forget that. [00:11:04]

What's critical to us today is the understanding that the successful outcome of Abraham's test is incorporated into our blessing, into the blessing that's present to all the nations of all the world, still today and yet to come. In other words, Abraham's faith is now a part of the destiny, the destiny of his offspring. That makes it part of our destiny, our calling, or our purpose, or our destination. In other words, it's part of God's divine plan, or like I like to say, divine dream for his created people. [00:11:27]

Despite this divine plan, or divine dream, whatever you want to call it, God has granted us all free will. And through the exercising of our free will, we influence our destiny and the destiny of others through our choices. Through repentance, through holiness, through righteousness, or the lack thereof. [00:12:20]

The world we're living in, in our individual microcosms and the greater narrative into which we're woven, is a reflection of all the choices we continue to make, individually and collectively. The words we choose to use, the things we choose to believe, the actions we choose to take or fail to take. Each of us is created and called to fulfill God's God -given, our God -given purpose within God's divine framework. [00:12:48]

God is strong enough to intervene, but God has also promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. God promised us free will. [00:13:29]

God promised us free will. promises us his own self, enters into our lives, gives us guidance, gives us the teachings of Jesus. Love, compassion, generosity, forgiveness, welcome, all of those things. God gives us the opportunity, and God gives us the opportunity to say no thank you. [00:13:38]

The same was true for Abraham in the tests that God posed to him. He must have been aware that he was tested. How could he not, when he was faced with such a cruel dilemma as giving up the son that he had pleaded for and waited for? It seems that the test for Abraham lay in which would take precedence. His love for God or his love for Isaac. That is a tough one, isn't it? Oof. [00:14:07]

At stake here wasn't just the meaning of Abraham's God -centered existence, it was the meaning of the God -centered existence of Isaac also, and all who would be descended from Isaac, because... what...can't be lost in this is how serious this command of God to Abraham was to God's own self also. Imagine that. Imagine how that felt for God. We can't possibly. In ordering this test, God is implicitly endangering the whole enterprise of his covenant with Abraham by giving him the option to choose. Obedience or no thank you. Wow. [00:14:41]

In terms of the story, God is waiting to see the result of Abraham's free reaction to the test that he's put him to. A refusal by Abraham to sacrifice Isaac would show that Abraham had not passed the test of his faith and we have no idea what that would have meant for all of us. Were that to happen, the entire covenant enterprise, this partnership relationship based on promises and conditions would collapse entirely. And with it, the entirety of salvation history would have had to take a radically new turn. [00:15:38]

And that's why the story matters for us today. The concern of this. story is for a deepening of our encounters with God, between God and God's people. While the primary emphasis falls on the appropriate human response, God is still engaged within the encounter in such a way that the outcome is a genuine divine concern. [00:16:22]

God cares what choices we make, because he invites us into this ongoing creation and building of something new, the renewal of life, the empowerment of people and creation, the healing of everyone and everything. Our choices matter to God because God desires most of all that we know him, that we fear, or as I said a couple weeks ago, that we stand in awe of him. He cares that we love him and that we know that we're loved by him. And he cares that we trust that his divine plan, his divine dream is always for good, always. [00:16:47]

In God's divine dream, no one will be harmed, no one will starve, no one will starve, no one will starve. be killed by random acts of violence or planned acts of violence no one will be diminished because of their way of being their way of identifying even their way of worshiping no one because that's not God's dream [00:17:41]

Every day we are tested to know to reflect on to actually think about what's in our hearts what marks out Abraham as one who fears God is that he did choose to obey God at the very hardest test of all and in so choosing Abraham realizes for himself what is held out to all of humanity the possibility of human growth that we experience when we choose to obey God you know those moments where you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be doing exactly what God wants you to be doing that peace that just fills you that lack of fear [00:18:08]

Obedience was from the outset central to Abraham's faith in God his obedience to God's command to sacrifice Isaac reflects the point where his visible outward actions and his inward spiritual significance were knit together into one where it all becomes obvious. Abraham's outward actions woven with his inward relationship with God revealed his faith in God. [00:19:02]

He had faith in treating God and understanding God as reliable. Entrusting him and believing that God would faithfully and lovingly keep the promises and obligations that he had made. Abraham's faith was based on his covenant with God, so he was aware of what was at stake. He knew that not only what was expected of him was obedience, but that what God expected of God and God's own self was the fulfillment of the promises that he had made to Abraham. [00:19:37]

Abraham's faith was a type of knowledge which enabled him to withstand the tests that had been prepared for him. He knew that God would somehow provide a solution to what outside the realm of his faith was an absolutely unsolvable problem. [00:20:17]

Abraham's statement that God himself would provide a lamb for the burnt offering was more than the anxious words of a distraught father speaking to his questioning son was so much more than that it was an expression of his certainty based on faith which was his relationship with God and we can't forget about Isaac as Tim pointed out in his reflection for this morning Isaac in turn trusted his own earthly father's trust in God it had been exemplified to him over and over and over again [00:20:38]

When we think about that it seems that perhaps the most valuable thing we can provide to our children and our grandchildren and the people around us today regardless of whether they hold our same beliefs is to show them that we do not stop trusting God no matter our circumstances regardless of what's happening we know that there is no problem that is unsolvable to God [00:21:20]

It's unlikely that any of us will ever face a test remotely similar to Abraham's but we will and we do face tests and challenges which provide us opportunities to choose between trusting God trusting ourselves And it's not the size of our faith that's important. It's who we're placing our faith in that ultimately matters. That's what matters. [00:21:50]

Nothing we've heard today forces us into the choices that we'll make on a day -to -day basis because the free will of God that God has granted is woven into the very fabric of our lives and our way of existing. God's freedom in calling Abraham and putting him to the test and Abraham's freedom in responding to this call and test are mirrored in the freedom that every single one of us enjoys. [00:22:22]

Remember, we will fail. Just like Adam failed and Abraham failed and Moses failed and King David failed. But know this, God does not ever fail. God has called us into this story, into his story, into history. It's a story that isn't always beautiful, but it's a story that always leaves space for restoration and forgiveness. It's ongoing. [00:22:54]

When facing our choices and making them, let us first and foremost...trust not in the words of anyone other than the teachings and the words of Jesus, teachings of love and peace and compassion and goodness and mercy and forgiveness and generosity and welcome. [00:23:32]

And let us remember that the blessing of all nations has been accomplished through the dynasty God promised to Abraham. It was accomplished as reflected and tied in so beautifully by Tim in God's sending of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, takes away the sacrifice for the sake of us, the sake of the world, the sake of the future, and it was provided by God just when the world needed it and we still need it. [00:23:52]

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