By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.- Hebrews 11:17-19 BSB

Warrior;
Abraham is such a great example here. The actual event was in Genesis. Abraham had waited a long time. He was over 100 years old, he made mistakes along the way. He attempted to manhandle the will of God and make things happen, and he made things worse. But everything worked out and Abraham and Sarah begat Isaac. Abraham then had to make it through Sarah’s Jealousy of Hagar and Abraham’s son of the flesh, Ishmael. It is written; But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, laughing. So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be heir with my son Isaac.” (Genesis 21:9-10) Through all of this Abraham was walking with God, talking with God and doing the will of God. No Matter what was going on, Abraham was keenly aware that He was to walk and abide in the God of the universe who is guiding his steps. Even in the struggles with Sarah in relationship to Hagar and Ishmael, Abraham sought Yahweh’s guidance and did his fleshly best to abide in the will of His heavenly Father. This is why Faith and Abraham are so closely connected. It is written, And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith. (Genesis 15:6)

Leader, this is our example. This is how we know if we are operating on a God Operating System (GOS), or a Flesh Operating System (FOS). KEEP IT SIMPLE SOLDIER. There are only 2 frames, 2 Operating Systems- Not Windows and Apple! I’m talking about Seeing the world through the God of the Universe and His instruction manual, the Bible, or of thinking you are the god of your own world, and you might consider using the Bible as one of many books of wisdom. It is FAITH and FRAME. Abraham’s RIGHT STANDING before God came from His Faith, and Not by HIS WORKS! The apostle Paul highlights this in Romans 4, as well, emphasizing that Abraham’s faith, not works, was the basis for his righteousness. Hear the Word of the Lord, What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has discovered? If Abraham was indeed justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:1-3) This is further reinforced in James, where James connects Abraham’s faith with being called a friend of God. It is written; Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:21-23) One with poor theology might think that because of the Great relationship and faith of Abraham everything was going perfect for ‘Perfect’ Abraham, and he would have no struggles. Not so- he too had many problems. However, because Abraham operated on a GOS, he realized that most of his problems were really GOD’S problems. This is what we learn from Today’s verse that was not present in the writing of this event in the book of Genesis.

Conduit, hear the Word of the Lord, 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.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (Genesis 22:1-3) Abraham was told to kill his son, the seed of hope, to sacrifice his precious ‘seed of promise’ as if he were an animal. It is in the troubling moment that we see the Operating System of Abraham, “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:7-8a) Abraham knew “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Abraham’s faith made him understand that GOD HAD A PROBLEM. It wasn’t Abraham’s problem to provide a sacrifice; it was God’s problem. It is written, When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 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 Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. (Genesis 22:9-13) On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. If we are doing the will of God, based on the calling of God, then He will provide. We need to be focused on the Father and His business, not on the troubles, tasks and politics of this world. We are called to live an examined life. Today let us ask ourselves, do we have the proper OS operating system? A FOS, Flesh operating system will not allow you to be a friend of God, nor will it have you busy about the Fathers Business, and definitely NOT living by Faith. However, a GOS, God Operating System will give you HIS EYES so you can see, then DO the right things. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21) This is the ultimate Pay it Forward, where you will hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant! Who’s got a problem? God has got a problem; let it go to God! Amen!