Genesis 12:1-4 (ESV)
The Call of Abram
12 Now (A)the Lord said[a] to Abram, “Go from your country[b] and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 (B)And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 (C)I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and (D)in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”[c]
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from (E)Haran.
Genesis 15:1-6 (ESV)
God’s Covenant with Abram
15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: (A)“Fear not, Abram, I am (B)your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue[a] childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and (C)a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; (D)your very own son[b] shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and (E)number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, (F)“So shall your offspring be.” 6 And (G)he believed the Lord, and (H)he counted it to him as righteousness.
Genesis 22:1-8 (ESV)
The Sacrifice of Isaac
22 After these things (A)God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to (B)the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and (C)laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, (D)“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
1. Remember what God has done.
John 1:16 (ESV)
16 For from (A)his fullness we have all received, (B)grace upon grace.[a]
Psalm 100 (ESV)
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
A Psalm for (A)giving thanks.
100 (B)Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 (C)Serve the Lord with gladness!
(D)Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that (E)the Lord, he is God!
It is he who (F)made us, and (G)we are his;[a]
we are his (H)people, and (I)the sheep of his pasture.
4 (J)Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his (K)courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; (L)bless his name!
5 (M)For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his (N)faithfulness to all generations.
2. Recognize what God is doing.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together (A)for good,[a] for (B)those who are called according to his purpose.
Matthew 19:26 (ESV)
26 But Jesus (A)looked at them and said, (B)“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
3. Trust what God will do.
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
for those who love him.”[a]
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans(A) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(B) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(C)
Isaiah 43:2 (TLB)
2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.