Genesis 21: 33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days. 22: 1And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 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? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
What does this hold for father’s day? The spiritual truths are significant for all of us. Note the story. God required Abraham to take the son of his old age, the son of promise, to a certain place and offer him to the Lord. Notice Abraham’s words. They have a pivotal meaning. When God spoke to him he said, behold, here I am. In the ancient Hebrew this meant “I am right here.” Later on, he was going up the mountain with Isaac to do as God required. Isaac saw all the preparations for the offering except the sacrifice. He began to ask his father about it. Abraham answered him in the same way he did the Lord by saying here am I, my son.
One thing we learn about Abraham’s character was that his family knew where he was. They knew him. The people around knew Abraham and the fear of God was upon the people of the land because of him. He was given leeway to travel across many borders unthreatened. He was not a person of dual identity. Even the Pharaoh in Egypt could see where Abraham stood.
He was well aware of the importance of his son Isaac. Hard choices had already been made concerning Hagar and Ishmael, and they had been sent away. At this time, Abraham and his family lived in a portion of land controlled by the Philistines. Isaac was young and vulnerable. Each of us is trying to care for our family in a pagan world today. Isaac, just as our children, didn’t realize the danger he was in. We don’t fully realize how dangerous the times are especially for the children.
Abraham was going to protect his family at all costs. It behooves us to do the same with what and whom God has put under our charge. Pressure on parents is hard. God has promised victory regardless of who seems to be in charge. The devil has many avenues of attack. Remember God has his hand of control on this world. There is still a land of promise. If everything was to go as planned, Abraham had to be where God wanted; he signified he was there by his answer. Are you where God wants you? Are you the kind of dad and mom He wants? Abraham could say here I am. Are we that sure? Many can’t stand that firm and say “I stand right here.” Your loved ones need to where you stand. Isaac didn’t have to ask Abraham who his God was; he knew.
On top of all the danger they faced, God told Abraham to kill his son. He didn’t question or waiver. Isaac said my, father. He knew he trusted in God. What ought to be known about us is our stand with God. A child will know who the God of his parents is, whether it is God Almighty or something or someone else. There is a great need in the world today for men and women to take a stand for God. Unfortunately, there is a confusing double standard in many areas of life. Children need parents they can depend on. If we’re not there for the kids, the devil will be. There are lots of things waiting to steal our children, both humanly and spiritually speaking. If there was ever a need to stand for God, it is now.
Even if the world comes unglued, we don’t have to. We need to stand for God and say here I am. Our neighbors, our sons and daughters, our families, our country need to know where we stand. This world is looking for spiritual answers from someone. Can they count on you? The very people who will ridicule Christians will call on you for prayer in the time of need.
When God called Abraham he was where he needed to be. When Isaac called Abraham he was where he needed to be. He probably would have liked to have run off that mountain, yet he answered his son with the best answer there was. God will provide. You don’t have to know all the answers, but you do need to trust the answer.
God did provide himself a sacrifice. When Jesus Christ was on the cross and asked God why he had forsaken him, was God not where he was supposed to be? No. God is always where he must be. At that moment the Son of God was taking our sin. God couldn’t answer him. He had to suffer alone for our opportunity to have a relationship with God.
You’re being called upon today. Can you say here I am? If not, answer the call. Respond so that everyone knows where you are.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 