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You know what most people don’t understand about faith?
They think faith is about feeling confident and certain all the time. They think faith means you never doubt, never struggle, never face moments where God’s instructions seem completely insane.
But that’s not what real faith looks like. Real faith is what Abraham demonstrated when God asked him to do something that made absolutely no sense—something that contradicted everything God had previously promised him.
Let me tell you the story, and then I’ll show you the powerful principles hidden in this account that can transform how you experience God’s provision in your own life.
The Background: Abraham’s Impossible Test
Abraham had waited 25 years for the son God promised him. Twenty-five years of hoping, believing, sometimes doubting, and finally receiving. Isaac wasn’t just Abraham’s son—he was the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. Through Isaac, God said Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars.
Isaac was everything to Abraham. He was the miracle child. He was the promise fulfilled. He was the future of God’s entire plan.
Then one day, God spoke to Abraham with an instruction that must have felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest:
“Take now 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.” (Genesis 22:2, NKJV)
Think about this for a moment. God was asking Abraham to kill the very son He had promised. The son Abraham had waited decades for. The son through whom all of God’s promises were supposed to be fulfilled.
This made no logical sense. It contradicted everything God had said before. It seemed cruel. It seemed wrong.
But here’s what Abraham did: “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” (Genesis 22:3, NKJV)
Abraham didn’t argue. He didn’t negotiate. He didn’t wait to “feel ready.” He got up early the next morning and started moving in obedience.
For three days, Abraham walked toward that mountain, knowing what he was supposed to do when he got there. Three days of internal agony. Three days of wrestling with emotions. Three days of choosing obedience over understanding.
When they reached the place, Abraham took Isaac and the wood for the offering and began climbing the mountain. Then Isaac asked the question that must have pierced Abraham’s heart:
“Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7, NKJV)
This is where we see something absolutely powerful about Abraham’s faith and the lesson we need to learn today.
The Power of Positive Confession in Your Darkest Moment
Abraham was in the darkest, most painful moment of his life. He was walking his beloved son up a mountain to sacrifice him. Every step must have felt like death. Every breath must have been heavy with sorrow.
But when Isaac asked where the lamb was, Abraham didn’t break down. He didn’t say “I don’t know what’s happening.” He didn’t express his confusion or pain.
Instead, he made one of the most powerful declarations in all of Scripture:
“And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.'” (Genesis 22:8, NKJV)
Do you see what Abraham did? In his moment of greatest pain and confusion, he spoke a positive confession. He declared what God would do, not what the situation looked like.
This is the power of your tongue that most people never tap into. Your words have creative power. Your declarations in difficult moments determine what you’ll experience.
Abraham didn’t say “God has abandoned us.” He didn’t say “I don’t understand what’s happening.” He didn’t speak his doubts or fears. He spoke faith. He spoke provision. He spoke what he believed about God’s character even when circumstances seemed to contradict it.
The truth is that your words during your test determine whether you pass or fail that test. What you say when things don’t make sense reveals what you really believe about God.
You should learn to speak positively even when everything in your situation screams the opposite. This is not denial—this is faith. This is declaring God’s truth over your circumstances instead of declaring your circumstances over God’s truth.
Three Keys to Experiencing God’s Provision
Let me show you three powerful principles from Abraham’s story that will unlock God’s provision in your life. These are not just nice ideas—these are spiritual keys that work every single time if you apply them.
Key 1: Listen to God’s Instructions
The first key is that you must be willing to hear from God, even when His instructions don’t make natural sense.
God speaks. This is not debatable. God spoke to Abraham, and God still speaks to His children today. But the question is: are you willing to listen?
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17, NKJV)
Most people miss God’s provision because they’re not listening for His instructions. They’re busy making their own plans, following their own wisdom, doing what seems logical to them. But God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
You should cultivate the habit of listening to God through His Word, through prayer, through that still small voice in your spirit. And when He speaks, you need to be willing to hear even when what He’s saying doesn’t align with your natural understanding.
Abraham heard God’s instruction even though it contradicted everything that made sense. He didn’t dismiss it as “not God” just because it was difficult. He listened.
Key 2: Obey What God Says
Hearing is not enough. You must move from hearing to doing. Obedience is the bridge between God’s promises and their manifestation in your life.
Abraham didn’t just hear God’s instruction and think about it. He didn’t pray about it for months hoping God would change His mind. He acted immediately:
“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey…” (Genesis 22:3, NKJV)
Obedience is what activates God’s power in your situation. Faith without works is dead. You can believe all you want, but until you obey what God has instructed you to do, you won’t see the breakthrough.
The truth is that delayed obedience is disobedience. When God gives you an instruction—to start that business, to forgive that person, to give that offering, to take that step of faith—you should obey quickly, not eventually.
I know that some of God’s instructions don’t make sense to your natural mind. Abraham’s instruction certainly didn’t make sense. But obedience is not about understanding—it’s about trusting God’s character and wisdom even when you can’t see the full picture.
God will never ask you to do something that will ultimately harm you. He might ask you to do something uncomfortable, something that requires sacrifice, something that stretches your faith. But His instructions always lead to blessing, provision, and breakthrough.
Key 3: Declare Positive Words Always
The third key is to speak God’s Word over your situation, not what the situation looks like.
Abraham was asked where the lamb was, and he could have responded in many ways. He could have said “There is no lamb.” He could have expressed his confusion. He could have broken down emotionally.
Instead, he declared: “God will provide.”
This is the power of positive confession. Your words shape your reality. Your declarations in the midst of testing determine the outcome of that test.
The Bible is clear about the power of your tongue:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21, NKJV)
You should make it a habit to speak God’s promises over your situation daily. When you’re facing financial difficulty, don’t keep saying “I’m broke, I’m finished, I don’t know what to do.” Instead, declare “My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).
When you’re facing health challenges, don’t keep confessing sickness and death. Declare “By His stripes I am healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
When you’re facing obstacles and delays, don’t keep speaking failure and impossibility. Declare “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Your positive declarations keep your faith alive. They remind you of who God is when circumstances try to make you forget. They release supernatural power into your situation.
God’s Perfect Timing: Why He Waits Until the Last Moment
Now here’s something you need to understand about how God operates. He rarely comes through when you think He should. He usually waits until what looks like the last possible moment.
Abraham built the altar. He arranged the wood. He bound Isaac and laid him on the altar. He stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. It was the absolute last moment—the point of no return.
“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'” (Genesis 22:11-12, NKJV)
God stopped Abraham at the very last second. Not a moment earlier. Not when Abraham started walking toward the mountain. Not when he was climbing up. Not when he built the altar. At the absolute final moment.
This is how God often works in our lives. He doesn’t intervene at the beginning of your crisis. He doesn’t always stop the problem before it gets intense. He waits until the critical moment to demonstrate His power.
Why does God do this? Because premature provision doesn’t build strong faith. If God always rescued you before you felt the pressure, you would never learn to truly trust Him. You would never develop the kind of faith that can withstand anything.
The truth is that God won’t let the fire consume you, but He will let it get hot enough to refine you. He won’t let the flood drown you, but He will let the waters rise high enough to teach you that He’s in control even in the storm.
When you’re in the middle of a difficult situation and God seems silent, don’t think He’s abandoned you. He’s watching. He’s in control. And He’s waiting for the perfect moment to reveal His solution.
Your job is not to figure out how God will come through or when He’ll come through. Your job is to keep obeying, keep believing, and keep declaring His promises until the breakthrough manifests.
God Opens Your Eyes to See What Was Already There
Here’s what happened next in Abraham’s story, and this is beautiful:
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, NKJV)
Notice this carefully: God didn’t create the ram at that moment. The ram was already there, caught in the thicket. But Abraham couldn’t see it until God opened his eyes.
This is what God does when you wait on Him in obedience. He opens your eyes to see solutions that were there all along but hidden from your view.
How many times have you stressed and worried about a problem, only to discover later that the solution was right in front of you the whole time? How many times has God provided through a means that was already available but you couldn’t see it until the right moment?
The provision you’re waiting for might already be in your environment. The answer to your prayer might already be within reach. The breakthrough you need might already be positioned. You just need God to open your eyes to see it.
This is why you shouldn’t give up in the waiting season. This is why you should keep trusting even when you can’t see the solution. God is arranging everything, and at the right time, He’ll open your eyes and you’ll see what He’s been preparing.
Abraham named that place “Jehovah Jireh” which means “The Lord Will Provide.” Not “The Lord Might Provide” or “The Lord Provided Once.” The Lord WILL provide. It’s His nature. It’s His promise. It’s what He does for those who trust and obey Him.
The Blessing That Follows Obedience
Now watch what happened after Abraham passed his test. God spoke again, and what He said was so powerful that He confirmed it with an oath:
“By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Genesis 22:16-18, NKJV)
God blessed Abraham so profoundly that He swore by Himself because there was no one greater to swear by. This blessing was not just for Abraham—it extended to all his descendants forever.
This is what obedience releases. When you obey God even in the difficult instructions, even when it costs you something, even when it doesn’t make sense, you don’t just receive a blessing—you release blessings for generations.
The blessing wasn’t small. It wasn’t limited. God said “blessing I will bless you”—emphasis on multiplication. He said Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the stars and the sand. He said they would possess the gates of their enemies. He said all nations would be blessed through Abraham’s seed.
This is the kind of blessing that obedience produces. Not just enough to get by. Not just a little provision. Overwhelming, generational, nation-impacting blessing.
You Are Abraham’s Descendant Through Faith
Now here’s the good news that most people miss. You might be thinking “That’s nice for Abraham, but what does it have to do with me?”
Everything.
The Bible is clear that if you have faith in Jesus Christ, you are Abraham’s spiritual descendant:
“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29, NKJV)
This means that the blessing God pronounced over Abraham is your inheritance. You have the right to partake in this blessing. You are not excluded from it—you are included in it through faith.
The same God who provided for Abraham is your God. The same God who blessed Abraham wants to bless you. The same God who multiplied Abraham’s descendants wants to multiply everything you put your hand to.
You should declare this right now. Don’t just read it passively. Speak it out loud: “Father Abraham’s blessings are mine! I am a descendant of Abraham through faith. The blessing God pronounced over Abraham is my inheritance. I receive it by faith right now.”
This is not presumption. This is claiming what the Bible says belongs to you. God made these promises, and God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus.
How to Apply These Principles to Your Life Today
Let me make this practical for you. You’ve learned the principles—now you need to apply them. Here’s what you should do starting today.
Step 1: Identify What God Is Asking You to Do
You need to be honest with yourself. Is there something God has been telling you to do that you’ve been avoiding? Is there an instruction you’ve been resisting because it doesn’t make sense or feels too difficult?
Maybe God is asking you to forgive someone who hurt you deeply. Maybe He’s asking you to step out in faith and start that business. Maybe He’s asking you to give an offering that seems too large. Maybe He’s asking you to let go of something you’ve been holding onto.
Whatever it is, you need to identify it clearly. You can’t obey what you refuse to acknowledge.
Step 2: Make the Decision to Obey, Regardless of How You Feel
Obedience is not about feelings. It’s a decision. You should decide right now that you will obey what God has instructed, even if you don’t feel like it, even if you don’t understand it, even if it scares you.
Abraham didn’t wait until he felt good about sacrificing Isaac. He didn’t wait until it made emotional sense. He made the decision to obey and then acted on that decision.
You should do the same. Make the decision today. Not tomorrow. Not when you “feel ready.” Today.
Step 3: Take Immediate Action
Once you’ve decided to obey, take the first step immediately. Don’t delay. Don’t overthink it. Don’t wait for perfect conditions.
Abraham rose early the very next morning after God spoke. He didn’t procrastinate. He didn’t make excuses. He acted.
What’s the first step you need to take in obedience to what God has shown you? Take it today. Even if it’s a small step, take it. Movement creates momentum.
Step 4: Speak Positive Declarations Over Your Situation
As you move in obedience, you should constantly speak God’s Word over your situation. Don’t allow yourself to speak doubt, fear, or negativity.
When challenges come—and they will—declare “God will provide.” When it looks impossible, declare “With God, all things are possible.” When you’re tempted to give up, declare “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Your words during the process are just as important as your actions. Keep your confession positive and faith-filled.
Step 5: Wait for God’s Timing with Patience
You should not expect instant results. God’s provision will come, but it will come in His perfect timing, not yours.
While you wait, keep obeying. Keep believing. Keep declaring. Don’t give up just because the breakthrough hasn’t manifested yet.
Abraham walked for three days before reaching the mountain. He built the altar and prepared the sacrifice. He went through the entire process before God provided the ram. Your process might take time too, but if you remain faithful, God will come through.
The Truth About Obedience and Blessing
Let me be completely honest with you about what this journey requires.
Obeying God is not always easy. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Abraham’s test was one of the hardest tests anyone could face, and your tests might feel impossibly hard too.
There will be moments when you question whether you heard correctly. There will be moments when obedience costs you something significant. There will be moments when you’re tempted to turn back.
But here’s what’s also true: obedience always leads to blessing. Always. It might not happen immediately. It might not happen the way you expected. But it will happen because God honors those who honor Him.
The blessing that comes from obedience is worth every sacrifice you make. The provision that comes from trusting God is more than you could generate through your own efforts. The breakthrough that comes from faithful waiting surpasses anything you could have orchestrated yourself.
Abraham’s story proves this truth beyond any doubt. He obeyed what seemed like the most impossible instruction. He trusted God when nothing made sense. He spoke positively when his heart was breaking. And God blessed him so profoundly that we’re still talking about it thousands of years later.
Your Moment of Decision
I’ve given you the principles. I’ve shown you the process. I’ve explained what obedience to God produces. Now you need to make a decision.
Will you apply what you’ve learned, or will this be another message you hear and forget? Will you act on what God has been showing you, or will you continue hesitating?
The same God who provided for Abraham is waiting to provide for you. The same God who blessed Abraham wants to bless you. The same God who multiplied Abraham’s descendants wants to multiply everything in your life.
But it starts with obedience. It starts with listening to His instructions. It starts with moving in faith even when you don’t understand. It starts with speaking positively even when circumstances look negative.
You should make a declaration right now. Don’t just read these words and move on. Speak this out loud:
“I am a descendant of Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. The blessing God pronounced over Abraham is mine. I choose to listen to God’s instructions. I choose to obey what He tells me. I choose to speak positively over my situation. I trust that God will provide for me at the right time, just as He provided for Abraham. Father Abraham’s blessings are mine, and I receive them by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Now go live in obedience. Listen for God’s voice. Obey what He tells you. Speak His promises over your life. And watch Him come through for you at just the right time, in just the right way, with more than enough provision and blessing.
The same God who provided a ram for Abraham has already prepared your provision. Your job is to walk in faith and obedience until you see it manifest.
Trust Him. Obey Him. Declare His Word. And get ready to experience supernatural provision and blessing beyond what you can imagine right now.
Your breakthrough is coming. Keep moving forward in faith.
