MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
Scripture: Genesis 22

Genesis 22 initiated the final testing of Abraham’s part of Blood Covenant. Abraham said, “How shall I know Your promises will occur?” And God said, “Here is how you will know – I will put Myself in Blood Covenant with you.” The only thing left was for Abraham to be tested. Would he honor covenant the way God had? In Genesis 22:1 that test consists of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah. Blood Covenant means that whatever Abram asks God to do, God can ask Abram for. Abram asked God for proof of fidelity! God asked Abram for proof. Abram had to prove that he would do what God asked him to do. Would he be obedient? Blood Covenant had major benefits, but it had major costs as well. It was costly for God and it was costly for man. It costs God His Son and it costs us our lives. Abraham had a choice. Thank God that Abraham carried through! Verses 9,10 declare, “Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” In that moment, the angel of the Lord spoke from Heaven and 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.” Abraham lifted his eyes, he saw a ram caught in the thicket and offered the ram. Jehovah-Jireh, the God Who sees ahead and provides, was revealed to Abraham. Verse 16,17 says, “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.” At that point, government was complete because the covenant had been tested, Abraham passed, and it was guaranteed. Because it was guaranteed, we have the governmental authority to possess the gate of our enemies. And we can use that guaranteed authority in how we pray. If we look at an enemy and always “turn-the-other-cheek,” we enable evil. When we default to always praying blessing, we forfeit our Judicial Authority. We should always respond to an offense by listening for the leading of the Spirit, and wait for God’s direction. We can pray a Priestly blessing or a Judicial intervention! The evil we face determines how we pray! Abram fully qualified for Blood Covenant and we have inherited it. But not knowing the Word and not knowing our God can make us forfeit God’s very best –for our lives, for our nation and for the Kingdom!