Lessons in Stumbling

Genesis 25,26

Psalm 6

Luke 10

Genesis 26:24,25 …I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake. So he (Isaac) built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord.

Isaac was met with many of the same situations and struggles as his father, Abraham. He followed in his father’s footsteps in regards to leaning upon his own craftiness to deal with adversity and insecurities. However, like his father he too learned to trust in the Lord to be his strength.

It is interesting that in both generations, God allowed the men time to learn and to grow. He simply gave the command and was patient. I’m ever so grateful for God’s patience. Sometimes I we can all spend a great deal of time stumbling about until we finally come to out senses and simply obey completely. When we arrive in that place, we will hear God’s voice guiding us to that next step. We will also have learned a valuable lesson in spiritually maturity that is gained painstakingly through experience.

Isaac, like his father Abraham, was prone to building altars in the places where the Lord had spoken to him and had made promises to him. These altars are important monuments in the life of the believer, a physical reminder of God’s graciousness.

There are many reasons that an altar important, but several come immediately to mind. An altar speaks of sacrifice. To build an altar is to say to God, that nothing, no possession, is equal to the richness of standing before Him. It displays a willingness to surrender anything and everything in order to display appreciation and affection. An altar also gives a person a physical reference point in their life to return to the place of worship and adoration.

It is so easy at times to get away from the simple life of seeking to worship God. It constantly amazes me how fast I can get away from that place of sweet communion with God. False motives and pointless pursuits compete for my time and energy and I am swept up in them.

In those times, there can be sense of bewilderment and perhaps panic. How does one find his way back after drifting? An altar can provide that physical beacon. I must return to doing those first things that I once did when the Lord’s voice was so clear in my life. It doesn’t require much, only kneeling in submission and placing upon that altar everything that we esteem so valuable. There in the quietness of total surrender and obedience, we should expect to hear God’s voice once again.

Lord,

Bring me back to the altar and show me what is that I might surrender that will be pleasing in Your sight. Teach me obedience, for I know that you desire that above all and that worship always begins with obedience. Your commands are good and Your Word is life…