Genesis 22:15 – 18 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. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

Everyone needs blessings. Sometimes the blessing you seek is small such as a ride home at night, help to pack for a move, a few dollars to bridge a financial gap. Sometimes your need is huge – help with hospital bills, the mortgage or school fees coming due, a new car. Needs are the harsh realities of life.

The origin of blessings is spiritual in nature. They do not come as a result of labor. You can work 24 hours every day, and still be frustrated by the constant lack of life’s necessities. So our world has devised any number of schemes to supposedly help you meet these gaps – betting on races, cockfights, bullfights, competitions of various sorts and the all-time favorite golden pot of gold called the lottery.

Have I ever been drawn by any of these? I bought lottery tickets at least twice in my life and was completely traumatized by what my life might become if I won. Laugh at me if you like, I’m okay with that. But living my life in the public square is not me. The other big question that loomed for me was: Would I be able to tithe from the winnings? The answer I came up with was a resounding “No”. Think about it, if the life I am living is a life of faith and I am supposed to depend on God to meet my needs, doesn’t that mean I have to follow his methods?

In Genesis 22 Abraham is challenged by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Talk about being traumatized! But Abraham resolutely chooses to obey God. He was going to make that sacrifice, but Isaac’s life was spared immediately when Abraham demonstrated his willingness to pay the cost of obedience. In return God not only provided for his immediate need of a lamb but blessed him for the future beyond his wildest dreams. You have been called to obedience and to make sacrifices for the kingdom. As you obey, God will set in motion your stream of blessings which will bridge the gap between the result of your labor and your daily needs. The Holy Spirit confirmed this to me this way:

            “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. God will not honor pride. Until his children obey to the point of sacrifice, his blessings will not flow for it is in sacrifice that God sees the love of his children poured out. That moves his heart to bless them in ways they never imagined. The Lord God wants to fellowship with his children to the point where he can see their love poured out.”