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.” (Genesis 22:14)

God provides. That’s even one of his Names.

What a great promise!
What a huge source of comfort!
How amazing is the One who so richly provides for us?!?

We should not forget: God’s provision followed an intense period of obedience and confusion. Abraham was tested–really tested–and that’s not easy. He was called to give up Isaac. The one he loved. His only son. His son.

This was the son he waited 100 years to have. Before God provided for Abraham, he called Abraham to give up what he had previously provided. (say that five times fast!) He had to walk for three days in obedience, in confusion, before God provided.

And God did provide. And it was glorious. It was magnificent. It was unexpected and welcomed. This event was so Epic, it’s in the Bible.

God expects obedience. It’s required, it’s not optional. Grace isn’t an excuse to be disobedient. It’s actually an opportunity to be obedient. Because without grace, we can only be disobedient.

Our obedience doesn’t command and control God. Our obedience and surrender is expected, it is the coin that goes in the vending machine. Here’s the difference between life and faith: We don’t get to control and choose what comes out. We make deposits of faithfulness and obedience. We expect God to act–to really act–for this is faith. But we don’t get to choose his response. We can only respond with more faith.

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