Tag Archives: abraham

A lesson from the Old Testament

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 08, 2026:  SOAP #5880   Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 22:9 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. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11  But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.

OBSERVATION: Through the years, I have heard many sermons preached about Abraham and his faith.   God’s promises for Abraham’s future were all in Isaac. 

But today, the Lord is speaking to me through Isaac.  Isaac had surely heard the stories of how he was the son of promise.  He surely knew that he would inherit all of Abraham’s possessions.  He was greatly loved and valued by his father.  Yet laying on the wood, bound as a lamb would be for a burnt offering, I believe Isaac came to know that God was more important to Abraham than even he was.  Isaac, who had been the center of Abraham’s world, came to know that there was someone more important!   There was no struggle, Isaacs trusted his father. 

APPLICATION: This passage should remind us of another Son who willingly submitted Himself to his Heavenly Father’s will. For Isaac, there was a voice from heaven stopping the sacrifice.  But for Jesus, no voice came.  He was not only laid on the cross, but He was also crucified; He died; and He was buried. 

The wages of sin is death, and because He had no sins for which to die, He died for my sins, and for your sins, and for the sins of all who will accept Him as the Lord of their lives.  But, more than die, He rose from the grave showing that death is not the end. 

PRAYER: Lord it is my joy to live with you now here on earth, AND to live with you in heaven for eternity!  Amen  

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Also on:  soapsbyleon.wordpress.com

Obedience/Provision

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 08, 2025: SOAP #5515:  Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis (NIV) 22:11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” 13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

OBSERVATION:   In obedience to God’s command, Abraham had taken his son, Isaac, to the mountain designated by God to sacrifice him to the Lord.  This was the son they had hoped for and prayed for through many years of Sarah’s barrenness.  This was the son God had promised.  This was the son God had given them.  Was Abraham willing to sacrifice something so precious and special?  Did Abraham hold God in even higher regard than he did his own son?    

The answer was YES.  And as Abraham was beginning the action, God stopped him and there in the thicket they saw a ram which was then sacrificed in the place of Isaac.  What relief and joy must have flooded the heart of this 100+ year old father!!! 

APPLICATION:  What God speaks to my heart through this passage, is that God is faithful to provide for me when I am faithful to do as He says.  My obedience and God’s provision are strongly tied together.  My obedience gives me confidence that I please God as well as brings joy to God in accomplishing His will.  It makes Him kindly disposed towards me. 

This ministry of SOAP is a modern example of this.  SOAP was not something I was excited to do.  But it was clearly God telling me to write SOAPs.  The sacrifice of my way of doing my daily devotions in no way compares to Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, but the miraculous provision sometimes overwhelms me as the ram in the thicket surely did Abraham. 

PRAYER:  Lord, when I know that I am doing your will, I know I can count on you for the needed provision.  Your provision may come through a job I can do for which I will receive a paycheck (like driving a school bus).  It may come through the work of my hands (like planting a garden or harvesting fruit trees).  It may come like manna from heaven or a money gift through the mail.  But however you provide, it comes in response to my faith and it is received with thanksgiving and praise.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon