“How to Survive a Bad Day”
Genesis 22:1-19
Have you ever had a bad day? Oh, you will! Some signs you’re having a bad day: You call suicide prevention and they put you on hold. You turn on the evening news and they are showing emergency routes out of the city. Your kids start treating you the same way you treated your parents. The bird singing outside your window is a vulture. Your horn goes off accidentally and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hell’s Angels down the freeway. Your twin brother forgot your birthday. Everyone has had a bad day. I am no exception: Loss of a spouse, friend, pets, broken cars, problems at work, marital problems, etc.
How do you survive a bad day? Read passage and focus on Isaac’s example
#1 Be Where You’re Supposed To Be
In God’s Will, under his umbrella, between the two ditches!
Saved
Verse 2, “land of Moriah” This scene is at Calvary
Good family, His dad was a “friend of God”
Isaac was as close to God as he could be. Are you saved?
Obedient
[Prov.13:21] Evil pursueth sinners, but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
“God’s will is not something you have to do; it’s something you get to do” When you love someone you want to do things that please them.
Verses 3-6,7-8 Isaac shows no struggle to do his father’s will just obeys.
We spend more time in God’s way than in His will.
What is God’s will for your life? The Bible is full of God’s will for your life.
Read his word, Come to church, Witness to others, Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, Be a good spouse, parent, child.
Whenever in doubt go back to the last commands you remember. Jonah did!
Hiroo Onada Illustration, WWII Japanize soldier 29 yrs. after end of war, still obeying last order!
God also has a plan for your life.
“If you woke up this morning and still are here, God still has a plan for your life”
“Don’t ask God to cram His plan into your puny little mind because then God would be limited by your understanding”
Serving
Verse 6, Isaac was doing something, hauling the wood.(not a huge project)
Isaac did ALL his father asked of him. God blesses and protects men that are working for Him. Be doing what your father has you to do.
#2 Believe What You Don’t See
None of the circumstances matched the promise for Isaac.
Verse 8, “God will provide himself a lamb”
Believe the promises of God, even when circumstances don’t match.
“He will never leave thee nor forsake thee”
“My God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Heb. 11:1 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”
Step out in Faith, Isaac believed his father, and acted on it.
Luke 17, Ten lepers, “as they went they were cleansed”
Be willing to accept any answer. Isaac accepted the answer all the way to death.
The answer is always, whatever Glorifies God, and praise him!
#3 It Ain’t Always About Me.
You Reap what you sow. The entire passage is about God dealing with Abraham not Isaac. God and other people watch how you react.
“Why me, Lord!” Isaac could have change the story by rebelling or refusing!
Telling others, not good. Isaac never did. We Exaggerate and Complain.
You may take one on the chin for someone else someday.
(1 Pet 3:16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
(1 Pet 3:17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. Not about you.
(2 Tim 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Not about you.
It’s always for God’s Glory, magnify Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ had a bad day.
He was where he was supposed to be. He believed what he could not see. It was not about Him! It was about you.