Chapter 7: Ep 1: Girl, God Got You: Abraham's Faith and God's Provisions

0:00 Hello, and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman, the podcast where we dive into faith, life, and incredible ways God moves in our lives. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm so glad that you are here with me today. And so we're tackling a new episode, Chapter 7, Girl, God Got You, stories of unseen miracles and provisions. We're going to journey through some powerful biblical narratives that reveal how God's hand is always at work, even when you can't see it. So in today's episode, we will discuss Abraham's ultimate test of faith is how God provided a ram in the bush, just when it seems that all hope was lost.

0:54 The story reminds us that no matter what we face, God is faithful and his provision is always on time. So settle in, grab your Bible. If you don't have it nearby, go get it, get it ready. We're going to be starting in Genesis 22 and we're going to explore how God's unseen miracles and provisions are at work in our lives today. day. So let's get started. So we're going to start out by just defining what are miracles and provision, because God does both. So let's start out by defining what we mean by miracles and provisions.

1:40 So a miracle is often described as an extraordinary event that defies natural explanation, typically attributed to divine intervention. It's when God steps into our reality in a way that leaves us in awe. Tangibly showing his power and presence. How many of us have had that happen to us where God just shows up in our reality and we're left with our mouth hanging open in awe that only God could have done that. And when we define provisions, on the other hand, refers to God's supplying of our needs.

2:25 It's not always about extraordinary, but sometimes it's about the steady, faithful ways God provides for us every day, often in ways we don't immediately realize. And so in the story of Abraham, we will see both of these concepts at play. The provision of the ram and the thicket is both a miracle and an example of God's faithful provision. It shows us that God is not only aware of our needs, but is also actively working to meet them, often in ways that are beyond our understanding. You ever just wonder how things just line up the way they do?

3:09 And if you look back, there's no way that it could have happened unless God intervened. Sometimes we just have to just say, thank you, Lord, right? So we're going to see how God works in Abraham's life. In this series of chapter 7, we're going to also see how he worked in Joseph's life and then how he worked in King David's life. And then I titled this, Girl, God's Got You, because if he did it for them, he can do it for us. So we just have to remember that God's Bible is set in place so that we can see how God works in others' lives so that we can trust that he can provide and work miracles in our lives.

3:57 Can I get amen for that, right? And so let's start out with... Trying to see where I'm at. Okay. It says, so I want to just set the stage here. So if you, by now you should have found Genesis 22, but I'd like to get us into, you know, I like to get us into how Abraham would have felt in this situation. So we're going to set the stage for this story in Genesis 22. So I want you to imagine Abraham just for a moment, even imagine yourself just for a moment, that you waited years for God to answer a particular prayer. And maybe he has answered a particular moment.

4:39 He had fulfilled a promise in your life. And so here we see, we see here that Abraham waited for fulfillment of God's promise to give him a son. And finally, Isaac is born through him and Abraham, through Abraham and Sarah. And God has promised to make him a father of a great nation. But then an imaginable, unimaginable twist happens. God then asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son. It is a request that seems to contradict everything God has promised, a command that could shake anyone's faith to the core.

5:27 So imagine God has promised Abraham, I'm going to give you a son. And through this son, nations are going to be born. But then he asks you that I want you to sacrifice this son. And so let's, we're going to just continue with this introduction. So as Abraham journey, we're going to talk about Abraham journey to make this sacrifice. And so as women, we're emotional beings. Could you imagine God asking you to sacrifice something that he has given you? Can you imagine the emotions that Abraham felt, the confusion, even the fear, or even the sense of betrayal that this might have felt in his body?

6:13 But despite these emotions, Abraham proceeded in obedience, holding onto his faith in God's goodness and provision. This moment is a profound test of faith and obedience, and it set the stage for one of the most significant examples of divine intervention in the Bible. We see here, we know the story. I don't want to get ahead of myself here, but we see that Abraham was a real person. He had real emotions. He had a real son. He had to go make a real sacrifice. So I want you to think for a moment before we get into the scripture, that this was a real person, that God asked him to do a real thing.

7:01 And when I was thinking about this, there's a lot of times when you ever get involved in maybe an event. I remember as I was preparing for this, that I was involved in, I was just involved in, it was just a prayer group. And I really enjoyed this prayer group. And it was a prayer group and it was another group that I was involved in. I just moved to Nebraska and I was involved in two different events. And then I joined my guy. When I arrived here, the Lord sent me to another, you know, I had gotten involved in my church here. And the Lord said, well, I want you to let go of those two prayer events, which I was involved in for about two years before I arrived here to Nebraska. And I want you to let those things go. Now, remember you have created relationships, friendships and that it seems out of the blue god said i need you to like let those things go and focus only on this one thing focus on the church that i'm sending you to.

7:59 And I thought that was like the end of the world. I was like, how am I supposed to do this? I mean, I can handle both, Lord. I can do all these things. And I went to bed. I'm like, Lord, what? And it took me a little delay. I wasn't like Abraham. Like I woke up the next day and I did it right away. No, I was still trying to figure out, Lord, I can do all of it. But he was very persistent. No, I want you to let those go. and I want you to put all your energy into this one thing. And so we know the emotions that go with that. We don't, God doesn't have to give us a reason.

8:42 He just wants us to obey. Can we obey when we don't understand? Can we obey when he doesn't tell us the reason why? You know, so it took me about three or four days, but the pressure of it was more like, I need you to do it soon. And so the next meeting came and I, I gave the email notice to, to both of my groups and they understood easy. You're like, whoa, they understood, but I didn't understand, but I did it. And I kind of remember like, that was the hardest thing I had to do. And I just relaxed.

9:22 But then at that moment I had a sense of peace. And then I began to take the money I was giving to these organizations and then focus that money towards that one organization, which was my church, and then put all my energy into that organization. So there is a purpose to what God is doing. I haven't got the answer yet, so I won't say, and this is what happened. It was some great things and the ram in the bush came. No, I was just obedient for that time. And I want to just be honest with you. So let's go to Genesis 22 verses one through two. And let's see how Abraham responded to God's request. It probably wasn't my delay.

10:08 Probably wasn't your delay. But we can learn a lot about this because if it says, girl, God's got you, then that obedience means something to God. You know, and then that obedience can arrive, can also equals. I put girl, God's got you, can equal these unseen miracles and provisions. And if I really think back, I believe that God has provided for me and some unseen miracles and provision. But we get so caught about the extraordinary and the spectacular that we miss the little things that God is doing in our lives. But let's just go forth with Genesis 22 verses 1 through 2.

10:52 And let's just say, Lord, thank you for the little things that you're doing in our lives. Thank you even for the big things that you will do in our lives. And Lord God, I thank you that we will be quick to obey what you have us to do because you see the big picture and we are just seeing the small picture. Let's not be too caught up into what we think we need, Lord God, what we think is best for us and that we will follow what you will have for us. And we just give you praise for that in Jesus name. Amen. All right, let's go to Genesis 22, 1 through 2. God command to Abraham. It says, sometime later, God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abram, here I am, he replied.

11:37 Then God said, take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you. This is a new English version. new international version. And so we see here that God didn't miss words. There wasn't nothing about where, what, what it says, I take your son, your only son whom you love. Come on now, God wasn't missing words here and go to the region of Moriah. So you had a destination that you were headed, sacrifice him.

12:19 As a burnt offering on a mountain, I will show you. So we know it's going to end in a sacrifice. We know it was going to end on a mountain and we know it's going to end with his son and not just his son, the son that he loves. So this passage introduces us to an unimaginable test of faith that Abraham is about to face. God's command to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise, is a test that goes beyond the ordinary. It's a test of Abraham's ultimate trust in God's character and his promises. This moment challenges us to consider our own faith.

13:03 How do we respond when God's commands seem to contradict our expectation or desires. Abraham's immediate response was, here I am, is a powerful declaration of his readiness to obey, even when the task is daunting. I just actually believe that the more we trust God, I remember sharing a story on a other episode that when God gave me a warning dream, I immediately obeyed, right? But then you see in chapter seven of, and when I began my devotionals, there was a lot of delay in my obedience.

13:46 And so I noticed that as I began to trust God more, that my obedience becomes more immediate. Saying that's good. My obedience become more immediate as I trust in God. When you don't trust him, we'll start to trust in our own understanding, right? But we see here with Abraham that Abraham really trusted God. For one, he heard his voice, here I am. And then we'll see in the next chapter that he did it and he got up immediately and began his journey. So let's go to Genesis 22 verses 3 through 5, Abraham's obedience.

14:29 So early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. And when he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God told him. And on the third day, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. And he said to his servants, stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you. So we see here that early in the morning, so he woke up early in the morning and he began to prep for what he knew would be a sacrifice.

15:15 And then he began his journey. So God asked Abraham to do something. He slept on it. He got up and he began the journey to do what God asked him to do. So how many of us are ready to just begin to trust God with. With the miracles and provision, because it happens with that trust. It's chapter seven, it says, girl, God got you. So that means that if we can trust that God got us, then we can trust in the next thing, the miraculous and those supernatural provisions. So we see here that Abraham's obedience is immediate and unwavering.

15:59 He rises early and prepares for the journey, showing his commitment to follow God's command, even without understanding the outcome. The statement he said, we will worship and we will come back to you. That's a faith statement. We will worship and we will come back to you reveals Abraham's faith that somehow God will provide a way. This passage teaches us about the nature of true obedience. It's not delayed or conditional, but immediate and rooted in trust. Even when faced with the unknown, Abraham moves forward in faith, setting an example for us to trust in God's provision.

16:49 Even when we can't see how things will unfold. We see here that he rises early and that he began to speak faith. So when God tells you to let something go, your words shouldn't be, why Lord, I can do this like I did, but Lord, you got something better for me. So I can release that as quicker because I'm not, I'm not trying to control it thinking that I have, have, I have more, my best interest is better than you, what you have for me, Lord, but I got to trust that your interest in me is better. And so my words that came with the words that came out of Abraham mouth was powerful.

17:35 He says, can you wait here? Me and my son, we're going to go sacrifice and we will return. So that's already setting some things in motion for God to work. Let's go to Genesis 22 verses seven through eight. And let's see what was Isaac's response. Isaac's question and Abraham's response. So Isaac spoke up and said to his father, Abraham, father. Yes, my son, Abraham replied. The fire and the wood are here, Isaac said. but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.

18:21 And the two of them went on together. So first you see me and my son going to make a sacrifice and come back. But then the son looked around and said, wait a minute. There is no lamb. And so the son asked the question. He says, where's the lamb? And then Abraham made another faithful statement. God will provide the lamb. Come on. God will provide the lamb. So when we are, when we were looking for God's provisions, we see the most important things that we can say out of our mouth are those faith statements. Not how you feel in or what you think or how do you think things should go?

19:04 But what is your mouth saying that you are expecting God to do? He says. God himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. Glory to God. When God says, turn some things off, cut some things off, then he's on to something new. I think we are the only ones that want to hold on to stuff forever, thinking that we hold on to this long enough that this will produce a crop. Unless God told you that that's going to be the crop producing idea, if he didn't say that, you better let that thing go because God's always got something new.

19:48 Remember, he's always say, I am doing a new thing. So we have to trust in him and we have to let our mouth begin to speak those faith-filled words, not allowing our emotions to speak, allowing our mouth to speak faith-filled words. Let's go on to Genesis 22, 9 verses 9 to 12, the test of faith. When they reached the place God told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar.

20:29 He laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took his knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, Abraham, Abraham, here I am, he replied. Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. Do not do anything to him. Now I know you fear God because you have not withheld from me, your son, your only son. So look how, look at that. So, so much for the lamb, right? But look what happens.

21:10 Isaac didn't resist. Isaac laid there on top of the wood. And then the Lord called out from heaven and it looked as exclamation point. So he didn't whisper. It don't sound like it was a small, small, still voice that he had to go. What was that? What was that? No, no, no. It looked like God did a little Abraham, Abraham, like getting Abraham's attention. And then it stopped him. Here I am. And then the Lord continued to speak. Do not lay a hand on the boy. He said, do not do anything to him. He double spoke it twice.

21:52 Don't touch him. Don't touch him. Right. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me, your son, your only son. What is God waiting for us to let go of so that he can reveal him, his whole true self to us? Right. He says, now I know. I like that. Now I know. I said, now I know. What is God waiting to say that? Now I know. So at the climax of the story, Abraham's faith is fully tested. With the knife in hand, he is ready to obey God's command. But at the last moment, God intervenes.

22:37 The angel's declaration, now I know that you fear God. Affirms Abraham's deep reverence and trust in God. This moment is not just about obedience. It's about the death of Abraham's faith. It challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice in our walk with God. Are we holding anything back? And are we willing to lay anything on the altar, trusting that God's plan is perfect.

23:18 I like that. Are we holding anything back or are we willing to lay anything at the altar, trusting that God's plan is perfect? Do we want his perfect will in our lives? And what are we holding back from him? What is keeping us from God's perfect will? Let's go to Genesis 22, 13 through 14, verses 13 to 14. God's provision of the ram. So Abraham looked up and there in a thicket, he saw a ram caught by his horn.

23:59 He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place, the Lord will provide. And to this day, it is said on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided. That the Lord is what? Our Jehovah Jireh, that he is our provider. God's provision of the ram is the miraculous answer to Abraham's faith. Wow. God's provision of the ram is a miraculous answer to Abraham's faith. Just as Abraham had declared God himself will provide the lamb, God provides the substitute at the perfect moment.

24:49 This provision not only spares Isaac, but also confirms God's faithfulness. Abraham names the place the Lord will provide. A testimony that God is always on time, providing what we need when we need it most. This passage is a powerful reminder that God sees our needs and provides for them, often in ways that we least expect. It encourages us to trust in God's timing and provision, knowing he is always faithful. So check that out. You trust God and just, you have said he will provide a lamb and lo and behold, something is making noise in the thicket and you glance over there and you know Abraham, he grabbed that ram and probably sacrificed that ram so quick.

25:51 And it was like, it happened like obedience and God's faithfulness. Abraham's obedience, Abraham's faith, God's faithfulness to Abraham. Let's go to Genesis 22, verse 15 to 18. God's reaffirmation of his covenant. The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

26:38 Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies and through your offsprings. All nation on the earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me. God was still talking. Abraham sacrificing the ram and God is still talking like, you know, Abraham, I'm going to bless you because you have done this thing. You were about to sacrifice your only son, but yet I'm going to do more for you than you thought you were going to get. I'm going to bless your seed. And I'm going to bless your son. I'm going to bless your descendants.

27:20 And I'm going to bless it so much. It says, I'm going to bless it. Your descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand of the seashore. In response to Abraham's obedience, God reaffirmed and expands his covenant with Abraham. The promise of countless descendants and blessings to all nations through Abraham's offspring is a direct result of Abraham's willingness to trust and obey. This passage highlights the connection between obedience and blessings. God promises our sure and our willingness to follow him, even in the hardest circumstances, opens the door for his blessings to flow into our lives.

28:07 This scripture encourages us to reflect on the blessings that come from obedience and trust in God's plan. So let's just kind of sum this up because that's powerful. I just believe like, well, Abraham was sacrificing the ram. God was just so like, you know, God was like, wow, you were about to do this. And this is what I'm going to do for you. I am going to bless you more because you obeyed me. So faith at first point is faith in the unseen.

28:48 Abraham's journey in Genesis 22 is a powerful example of what it means to have faith in the unseen. Despite the heart wrench command to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham moves forward, believing that God has a plan. This kind of faith is what God calls us to have, a faith that trusts in his promises. Even we can't see the way forward. Abraham's willingness to obey, despite his emotions, opened the door for a miracle. The provisions of the ram in the thicket wasn't just a random occurrence.

29:31 It was a divine intervention that saved Isaac's life and reaffirmed God's faithfulness. This story challenges us to consider our own faith. How do we respond when God asks us to trust him without showing us the full picture? Are we willing to step out in faith, believing that God will provide even when the path ahead is unclear? Abraham's example shows us that faith isn't about seeing the end. It's about trusting God to guide us through the journey, knowing that his provision is always timely and sufficient.

30:14 Oh, this is good. Number two, walking through Abraham's emotions, even walking through our emotions. Right. Let's take a moment and walk through Abraham's what Abraham might have been feeling as he prepared to sacrifice Isaac. Imagine the turmoil in his heart, the conflict between his love for his son and his commitment to obey God. It's easy to read this story and focus on the outcome. But what about the journey, the silent steps of the mountain, the moments of doubt that must have crept in? Yet Isaac chose to trust God, even when everything in him must have screamed to hold back.

31:00 Reflecting on Abraham emotions can help us understand our own struggles with faith. It's okay to feel fear, doubt, or confusion. But like Abraham, we're called to move forward in faith, trusting that God's plans are greater than our fears. This is where we often seek God's provision, when we take the step of faith despite our emotions. So when we do it afraid, when we do it afraid, when we do it when we doubt, when we just keep moving forward. We know Abraham loves his son, but yet he still got up early that morning and prepared to sacrifice his son, trusting that God will do what he said he was going to do.

31:50 He spoke those words of faith, that we will return, that God will provide a lamb for us for a sacrifice. And just as he has said it, no sooner than he was about to sacrifice his son, then the voice of the Lord spoke through the angel and said, Abraham, Abraham, do not touch their son. And then things start to move forward. And God was still talking and blessed him. So let's talk about some personal reflections before we close up. Now let's bring this closer to home. Have you ever been in a situation where your faith was tested, where you were asked to trust God in a way that seemed impossible?

32:38 Maybe it was a financial struggle, a health crisis, or a relationship that seems beyond repair? How did you respond? Did you see God's provision in unexpected ways? Take a moment to think about those times. Those experiences are powerful reminders that just as God provided for Abraham, he is faithful to provide for. So what can we take away from Abraham's story? One key lesson is the importance of trusting in God's timing and provision. Even when we don't understand the situation, it's easy to trust God when things are going well.

33:21 But the true test of faith comes when we're asked to trust him in the midst of uncertainty or when he asks us to do the hard thing or what we consider to be the hard thing. So I encourage you to take a priority this week to reflect on where you might need to trust God more fully. Are you holding back because you're afraid that God won't come through? Or maybe you're in a season of waiting, unsure how things would turn out. Offer these concerns to God, trusting that just as he provided for Abraham, he will provide for you. Let's take this moment to center ourselves in prayer, asking God to help us live as living sacrifices, fully trusting in his good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.

34:14 Romans 12, 1 through 2 reminds us that our true and proper worship is to offer ourselves completely to God, trusting that he will guide and provide for us in every season. Remember, God got you. Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude for the example of faith that Abraham has set for us. Help us to trust you completely, even when the path ahead is unclear. We offer our lives to you as living sacrifices, believing that your plans for us are good, pleasing, and perfect.

34:58 Strengthen our faith, Lord, and help us to see your hand at work in our lives. Just as you provided for Abraham, we trust you with our lives, our plans, and our future. In Jesus' name, amen. So as we close this segment, I hope you're encouraged by Abraham's story to trust in God's provision, even when the road ahead is filled with uncertainty. Remember, just as God provided the ram and the thicket, he will provide for you the ways that are beyond your imagination. Our faith may be tested, but God's faithfulness never wavers. So thank you for joining me in this deep dive into Genesis 22.

35:41 Stay tuned as we continue to explore more stories of unseen miracles and God's miraculous provision in our next segments. And always remember, no matter what you're facing, girl, God got you. Until next time, keep walking in faith, trusting that God's timing and provision are perfect. This is Connie Morris. Until next time, be blessed. And I'll see you in our next segment. It will be regarding Joseph's journey through trials and how God used his experiences for a greater purpose. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes.

36:25 And if you know someone who could use a little encouragement, please share this podcast with them. And let's spread the message of God's faithfulness far and wide. If you want a copy of this devotional, it will be available on Diary of a Black Woman website, diaryofblackwomenllc.com. And until next time, we'll see you. Goodbye.