Why Command Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac?

I came across a young man questioning the wisdom of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. I prayed Lord give me what to say. Here it is...

“Do not lay your hand on the lad,
or do anything to him;
for now I know that you fear God,
since you have not withheld your son,
your only son, from Me.”

The point of Abraham's testing was to reveal his own heart to himself. God obviously knows the end from the beginning. He also knows our thoughts afar off. Abraham was challenged with sacrificing the most important and beloved thing he had, his son Isaac. Turns out that he was willing to go through with God's command because of his vehement love for God.

Sometimes we don't know how we'll respond in a given situation until we are right there in it. I saw a lot of people jumping to their deaths from the Twin Towers on 9/11. They may have never ever considered suicide until they were faced with no escape from the burning buildings. God showed Abraham his own heart.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, their innocent eyes were opened and they died a spiritual death. God killed an innocent animal to make clothing for their nakedness. Because of that God said without the shedding of blood is no remission for sin. That's why innocent animals were sacrificed. It was not for God's enjoyment, it is the consequence of sin. The psalmist David said to God, "You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart - these, O God, You will not despise." God prefers a soul that is broken about the wrong they did, not dead animals.

The Lord did not allow Abraham to go through with killing his son, proving that it was only a test. When God says, "Now I know..." it is clearly allegorical since He is all-knowing. And, because we needed the shedding of blood for the penalty of our sin, God proved His love by sacrificing His son that we believers might live as a result. God is a jealous God but His love is not selfish. As our Creator, He longs for our love and devotion to Him only, and His decisions are not for selfish gain, they're for our profit.

That young man asks hard questions, and many others also ponder them and are afraid to ask. I'm glad he asked. The message of the cross may seem like foolishness but it is the power of God to save the perishing... to reclaim our dying souls for eternal life instead of eternal damnation. It is written, "In the wisdom of God it pleased Him through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." I hope this helped him.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

canDEElicious Video Ministry

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When God Hurts My Feelings

I did not write this article but I had to share it here. Although I didn't author it, it comes straight from my heart. Wow! It is exactly how I feel. Who do we think we're fooling when we pretend that we're not offended. God knows our thoughts afar off (Psalm 139). But although at times He breaks our hearts, He is the ultimate healer of broken hearts. Click the link and read.

WHEN GOD HURTS MY FEELINGS
Instead of why, ask what. Now that this has happened, what am I supposed to do with it?

The Narrow Gate

Matt 7:13-14 (NKJV) Enter by the narrow gate (the opening); for wide is the gate and broad is the way (the path) that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Come in.

I guess if you were going to place an ad for heavenly real estate, this passage would not draw many consumers to live there.  The gate to eternal life is narrowed with humility, which goes against human nature.  Jesus said, "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt 18:3).  Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Conversion and regeneration is the gateway, by which we enter into God's heavenly kingdom, and there we begin a life of faith and devotion to the one true God of the universe.

In contrast, the road to destruction and hell is paved with pride and stubborn will against acknowledging Christ Jesus as Lord of all and Savior of the whole world.  It is tempting to follow the multitude down the broad path, but at the end of that path is great destruction.

There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

I became a born again Christian in 1999.  To be honest, there has been some really difficult times but at the end of the day, I would not trade my relationship with Jesus for anything else. During the difficult times, He is with me. I have also had many, many good days walking hand in hand with my Lord.

Christianity is not really a religion. It is more of a personal relationship with God Himself. He invites us into His family through His Son, Christ Jesus. We can have the most rewarding relationship we have ever experienced in life. God has a way of making you feel like you're His only child... His most special child, if you will open Your heart to Him.

If you have not experienced God personally, you should give Him a chance to prove Himself to you. It is not His will that any should perish (on the broad path) but that all should come to repentance (at the narrow gate) 2 Peter 3:9.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)

Say this prayer out loud...

I love you!

Heavenly Father,

I come to You in the name of Jesus. I am sorry for my sins and the life that I lived away from You; I ask for Your forgiveness. With my mouth, I openly confess, I believe that Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His blood on the cross and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin, and with Your help live my life in honor of You. With my heart, I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and now sits at Your right hand. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His word, right now I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for Your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sin. I thank You Jesus that Your saving grace always leads to repentance. From this day forward, transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to You alone and never be separated from You for all eternity.

Thank You for accepting me into Your family. Amen.

There's a lot of rejoicing in heaven right now because YOU have joined the heavenly family. Welcome home!

Do you love Me? Feed My sheep. Feed My lambs.

My former pastor who is now in heaven, used to always quote the Scripture that says if the blind lead the blind they shall both fall into a ditch (Matt 15:14). I took that to heart as an all encompassing life creed to live by. I will not work for just any employer, or work under just any supervisor, or be led by just any pastor or be married to just any man. Because if they don't know where they're going, why should I follow them?

The apostle Paul said that Christ Himself gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers (Eph 4:11). So if one is truly called by Christ to be a pastor, then he will have a true shepherd's heart (like Moses, for example). He was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and had a true shepherd's heart. That distinction does not come because one holds the title, it is a calling that Christ gives them. Jesus said in John 15:16, "You didn't choose Me, but I chose you." So then the apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 1:10, " Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble."

I said to the Lord recently, "I don't want to go to church on Sunday morning and be served up minute rice. I am not settling for minute rice, I want long cooked rice." I was telling God that if He is going to put me at a church, it needs to be where the word of God is truly being studied. And the man of God that approaches the pulpit on Sunday morning needs to be well versed in Scripture and serve me spiritual food that has been appropriately prepared. I will not waste my time and gasoline to be served up something he prepared in a minute. In 2 Tim 2:15 Paul says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

I should not have to go outside the walls of my sanctuary to seek a prepared word from God... not when He has called the man of God to preach. Then, it is anointed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).

Jesus said in Matt 6:23, "If your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! If the leader is the eye, and the eye has poor vision, then the whole body of that congregation is full of darkness. He said in verse 22, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light." If the man seeing over Christ's flock has singless of heart (or vision) and devotion to one purpose, then the body of Christ will be full of light.

Jer. 23:4  I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.

Beware of Distractions

Don't Be Deceived

Lucy (short for Lucifer) says, "I'll hold the football and Charlie Brown, you kick it." She has deceived him numerous times before and he is NOT falling for it this time. But Lucy reasons with Charlie and causes him to see the necessity for believing that it'll be different... this time. With fervent determination he guns a running start and builds momentum... once again, Lucy pulls it away and Charlie hits the ground with a hard and heavy THUD, feeling really stupid.


Lucy knows Charlie's going to chase his dream, so Lucy uses his momentum against him, to cause him to feel defeated by it. But the Good Shepherd says, "I don't want you to be driven by your purpose, I want you to be led by Me... together, we'll fulfill your purpose." Lucy is just a distraction. Don't be deceived by her.


My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27
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Frustrated Bible Teacher

FRUSTRATED BIBLE TEACHER

I know God has called me to teach the body of Christ. I try to do my best at studying and prepping for the time when He will finally open the door for me to go public. I seldom have an opportunity to teach... very few will attend Sunday School and they never ask me to preach otherwise. I find it difficult to not be frustrated by it. The prophet Jeremiah said when he tried not to preach and had determined that he would not speak in God's name anymore, that the word was like fire shut up in his bones and he could not endure the silence. That is what I feel all the time. I study but have no platform on which to teach what He has revealed to me and it is like fire shut up in my bones... an almost tormenting, daily occurrence.

At long last, I finally found a platform... YouTube. I have been out of work since January and I discovered YouTube as a platform on which to teach and I love it. I built the canDEElicious channel and uploaded videos and prayed that God would make provision that I should be able to continue, but He has not... although I prayed many times and have seen very little trickling in (not nearly enough). I love the Lord with all my heart and want to do His will. I love my husband too but he cannot bear the burden of our debts alone and need my help. So I am now looking for work as I must once again hang up my teaching hat to endure more of Corporate America.

My heart is extremely heavy today. I finally found a platform but the door is STILL shut. I know that when I go to work, I will not be able to devote the time I need to studying and recording. I will have to go to work everyday and put on a pretend happy face as though I am enthusiastic to be there.

I often see ministers who are not as anointed and gifted, going forth and it doesn't seem fair to me at all. They're soaking up good air teaching nothing, yet I am silenced from year to year. And now, even canDEElicious has been taken away from me.

Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather, and like vinegar on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Prov. 25:20

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