One of the Bible stories that sometimes confuses me is the Old Testament story of Abraham and his son Isaac, even though I have heard many pastors and teachers tell me what it means. I've even heard one pastor say that Abraham simply misunderstood God about sacrificing Isaac as it doesn't reflect a New Testament understanding of what God is like. But that isn't in the text at all! While I certainly don't fully understand God, today's two passages do reveal a lesson about God that you and I need to learn.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Genesis 22:1-2)

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him.” (Genesis 22:9-12)

In our first passage, God told Abraham to take Isaac to Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering, so Abraham saddled up and headed for the mountain. In our second passage, after they arrived, Abraham built an altar, arranged the firewood on it, tied Isaac up on top of it, and then took a knife to sacrifice his son—just as God had instructed him. Suddenly though, an angel calls out for him to stop. Still listening, Abraham stopped. Is wasn’t God plan for Abraham to  sacrifice his son Isaac. Over the years I have known men and women who received revelations from God but later stopped listening. When God moved forward with His plan, they spent the rest of their lives trying to continue their earlier revelation. Churches can do this, as well, continuing programs that once were fruitful, but are no longer part of God’s plan for that church. What can we learn from this? Here's one lesson: When God calls you to do something, do it—but, keep listening...He might have more to tell you!