Key verses: Genesis 22:1-19

Key thought

Critical defining moments for a vision are when it does not make sense; when it looks like God is contradicting himself, faith driven obedience to God is matters most in such instances. The journey of faith is marked by tests and trials, and some tests are divine initiated like the one in Genesis 22. Moriah is a place where God appears to withdraw the vision or the tool for implementing the vision. Vision defining moments are powerful turning points on our journey and they shape the rest of the journey. The purpose is to test our resolve to our obedience and love for God

The place where our vision is tested can lead to the following things

1. It can be a place of total surrender to God’s will
   • When our vision is tested, we must learn to fully submit to God’s will and demands.
   • A surrendered will creates an atmosphere for obedience.
   • Some of the vision defining moments in our lives have no glamour, they are associated with tears.
2.  It is a place where our faith grows
   • Every test we go through is an opportunity for our faith to grow.
   • Our faith in God is demonstrated when focus more on God and not just his promises or his deeds
   • We must never alienate the vision Giver from the vision – faith is putting trust in God even when the vision does not make sense.
   • We must not get so carried away to our God given visions to the extent that we forget the vision giver- God and His demands
   • Hebrews 11:19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death
   • God demands Isaac, from the eyes of the flesh God was taking away the lineage of Abraham, the promise was in jeopardy, from the eyes of faith, there are possibilities of a resurrection
3. It is a place of affirmation
   • Faith based obedience attracts divine commendation from God.
   • We must not attempt to become cleverer than the giver of the vision.
   • There is a reward for obedience, there is a commendation from when you place him first and at the center of the vision
   • Our loyalty to the vision is demonstrated first and foremost to the vision giver
4. It is a place of the vision upgrade
   • Our understanding of the vision giver grows when we pass the testing of our faith.
   • God reveals himself more as you go through tests, obedience unlocks more revelation
   • When we pass God initiated tests, we shift our understanding of God to a higher dimension
   • At Moriah we learn that God does not need human sacrifices – we learn of the atoning work of Christ
   • Vision is reconfirmed- amplified, God swore to himself
   • Vision that has been tested is updated, tests are the avenue for divine promotion and vision upgrade.

Conclusion

Vision defining moments may look illogical as they test our faith in God. May we learn to trust and obey God at all times.