While God ultimately didn't require Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham was willing to do so. He obeyed God's commands to take Isaac to the mountain and prepare to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. This wasn't easy to do because he had waited so long for his son and loved him dearly. However, he was obedient to God and was rewarded for that obedience.
For seniors, the story reinforces the idea of being obedient to God, even when it requires sacrifices. You might not always want to follow God's word, but it's essential to do so.
Another aspect of Abraham's story regarding his son is how quickly he complied. He didn't hesitate or go back and forth on whether to obey. Despite not wanting to sacrifice his son, he woke up early and prepared for the journey.
The lesson in this is that waiting to obey God is a form of disobedience. You can apply this lesson by taking steps immediately on a commandment from God.
God told Abraham he had to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering, but God also told him he would have many descendants that came from Isaac, who didn't have any children at that point. It didn't make sense that he was supposed to kill Isaac while trusting Isaac would bring him many descendants.
The commandments of God and the trials you go through might not always make sense. They might seem contradictory or impossible. However, trusting in God and following through with his expectations is still important. It's often not until you make it through a trial that everything makes sense.
Abraham knew God would follow through on his promises. For example, Abraham didn't know how he would have descendants from Isaac, but he held tight to God's promises that it would happen. Abraham didn't ask God why; he simply obeyed him. He expected God to provide for him and to deliver on his promises.
When you face a trial in life, it's easy to focus on why God would let that happen to you or why you're the one who has to go through the challenge. People often want explanations for the situations they experience. While it's not easy, remind yourself of God's promises instead of focusing on the difficult circumstances.
Abraham learned that God's plan is always the one that wins. He and Sarah tried to take things into their own hands as they waited for a son. Sarah convinced him to have a baby with her servant, Hagar, who became pregnant with a son. It seemed like they'd solved their problem, but the baby caused jealousy and disruption in their lives. They learned they needed to submit to God and trust he would follow through on his promises.
As a senior, you've likely made many plans in life that didn't come to fruition. When that happens, remember that God's plan is unfolding, even if your life doesn't look how you want it to. Trust that God's plan might turn out even better than what you'd hoped for.
When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. They thought having a child was impossible because they had tried for so long and were so old. However, God followed through on his promise and gave them Isaac. He can do things that seem impossible.
If you're facing a situation that seems impossible, think back to Abraham and Sarah. Just like them, you might not know what the future holds, and you might feel God can't make a miracle happen. Having faith could show that you were wrong and the situation wasn't impossible.
Abraham and Sarah weren't perfect people. The example of Sarah convincing Abraham to have a child with Hagar is one such situation. However, they were faithful, which is what God expects. He redeemed them and delivered on his promises to them.
Everyone makes mistakes in life. By the time you retire, you've had many years to make mistakes. However, God still loves you and is still there for you. He wants you to be faithful and learn from your mistakes. Keeping this in mind helps you remain strong in your convictions and continue to worship God.
Isaac's birth is an example from Abraham's life that you're never too old for things to happen in your own life. Abraham was 75 when God called him to travel to Canaan. This is where you start to see him appear in scripture.
You can achieve great things and serve God at any age. Don't let your age stop you from following your passions and taking action when God calls you to do big things.
