October 2, 2026
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.” (Genesis 22.1)
REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:
Those familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac, hear the word “test” and immediately think of the sacrifice God asks of Abraham on Mount Moriah (ancient Jerusalem.) That story is picked up in verse 2 of this chapter being considered in reflection. And you wouldn’t be wrong. It was indeed a test of faith and faithfulness. Sadly, I remember when Barak Obama reflected on that story in one of his campaign runs. He said that if he had been present to witness what was happening, he would have called CPS, Child Protective Services. (This, of course, from a President who supported and supports abortion rights and declared that codification of Roe v. Wade was worthy of legislative pursuit.) I could not help but think that even now, the story of Abraham and Isaac remains a test of faith and faithfulness to our heart, our mind and our spirit. What that story “presents” is a matter of consideration for being “present.” And for me, when God says he was going to test Abraham, the true test was to see if Abraham was “present” to God before God ever called Abraham to “present” Isaac to the altar as a sacrifice to God.
Abraham, obviously, passed the first test. His response of “Here I am, Lord,” is sufficient evidence to attest to that fact. Just as it was in the days when King Uzziah died and Isaiah continued to lament his death even during his service in the Temple before God. It weighed heavily on his mind and heart. The death of King Uzziah was not seen as a “present” for God’s people but demanded that the people be “present” to God. When God called Isaiah into service as a prophet, Isaiah responded, “Here I am, Lord.” It was not immediate. It came with some debate on qualifications (“I am a man of unclean lips dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips.”) Notice the “I am” in Isaiah’s statement. He is professing the unworthiness of man before God. However, whatever man is, God is not. God is present to man and seeks his welfare in the spirit and in the flesh. Remember Moses presented his “verbal” disability in an attempt to disqualify himself from speaking to Pharaoh God’s message of deliverance. God provided a staff and Aaron to Moses as presents to assist Moses in the task. His greatest present was the confirmation of his presence. How did He confirm His presence to Moses? It was through the revealing of His spiritual name- YHWH, I AM that I AM. Before any of these men, and others including Jesus of Nazareth, could accomplish what God was calling them to do they had to pass the critical “first test.” That first test was “being present to God in their life.”
Mighty ones of God, this is a test for all of us today. It is not just a one time test as presented to Moses, Isaiah and Jeremiah. It is a daily test or more often which asks of us, “Are we present to God?” Are we listening to God? Are we listening for the Holy Spirit? Are we listening to God’s Word? Or is our attention divided and distracted from what is most important for every aspect of our lives? This is where our attention to prayer is critical to our discipleship. Jesus taught His disciples to pray upon their request. They saw how God attended to John the Baptizer and gave his strength and courage even to face prison and the reality of death. They saw Jesus do mighty works of God that were far beyond what they perceived was reality for themselves. They knew that it could only happen if “God was with Him.” This is the beauty and promise of another name given for God and to Jesus. That name was Immanuel, God with us. It is a recurring theme of triumph and victory in the spiritual realm to declare “God is with us, who can stand against us.” Mighty ones of God, let it be said of us and by us “I am and God is, too.” Let us use our presents in presenting the gospel of God in Jesus Christ to the world and be present to both God and humanity for His glory and their salvation. This is our true act of faith.
TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
