Leading The Way

Guest (Male): Welcome to Leading The Way audio, featuring the Bible teaching of pastor and author of more than 50 books, Dr. Michael Youssef.

Dr. Michael Youssef: You know, friends, we all live busy lives. We're running around, and what becomes a victim of our busyness is our time with God. So I have a resource for you: The Daily Way. It's a few moments every morning or night to bless you, to encourage you, and it will motivate you.

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It's from his series called Counting Stars in an Empty Sky. He'll show you how Abraham's life experience brings encouragement into your journey of faith as you enter the unknown days of 2026. Let's listen together now as Dr. Michael Youssef begins today's powerful Leading The Way message.

Dr. Michael Youssef: Today, as I conclude this series of messages where God told Abraham to start counting stars when he could actually see none, we're going to see here in this last message how unpredictable the events have taken their turn. Naturally speaking, from the human point of view, this is the hardest message in the whole of the series. Emotionally speaking, this is the toughest in all of the 10 messages. Even in terms of faith, it is difficult to comprehend.

While I don't deny the difficulty, I don't want you to miss the important part. I don't want you to miss the big picture. I don't want you to miss the big vision here. I want you to turn with me, if you haven't already, to Genesis 22. Look at verse two with me because, in Genesis 22, Abraham goes through what none of us can ever understand or comprehend, not on this side of heaven.

This time, God's voice that Abraham was used to hearing shatters his peace and his peaceful existence. God's command comes as a sharp knife piercing into his very heart. This time, God's voice and God's request can only be described as devastating. This call presents Abraham with one of the greatest tests, if not the greatest test, that God could ever put His friend through.

Verse two: "Abraham." "Here I am." "Take your son, Isaac." You notice He mentioned him by name because Abraham could have said, "Eliezer is adopted, what about Ishmael?" He said, "No, it's Isaac, by name." In order to emphasize the point, He said, "whom you love." His total affection has now placed on Isaac. "And go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering." To say that these words appear as extremely cruel words would be an understatement.

"But Lord, wait a minute. Do you know what You're saying? This is the son of promise. Lord, I can offer You a thousand head of rams. Lord, I have a thousand head of cattle; I can offer them as a sacrifice. Lord, I can offer You Eliezer, my adopted one. Lord, I can even offer You Ishmael. But not Isaac, please Lord, not Isaac. Lord, take me. I've lived long enough. I will go on the altar. I'll offer myself as a sacrifice instead of Isaac."

The amazing thing is Abraham never said any of this. Probably that's what I would have done, not Abraham. He didn't say any of this. This is the amazing part. Let me ask you a question in passing. Just listen carefully, please. Has any of God's gifts or God's blessings in your life taken God's place? Please think long and hard about that and only answer that to yourself.

Don't miss the main issue here. It is not so much that Abraham placed all of his love on Isaac, important as that may be. The Bible makes it clear that this was a test. What is important is that God's blessings of the future salvation is going to come through Isaac. Don't miss this. This is the big picture here. For the first time, Abraham is now confronted with a conflict. I mean, this is a huge conflict. It's the conflict between the promises of God and the command of God.

How is he going to resolve this conflict in his mind? How is he going to resolve this conflict in his life? He will have to resolve it in one of two ways. Is God a liar? Is God an erratic God? Does God not know His own mind? But that's not the God that he grew to know. This is not the God he grew to love. This is not the gracious God that he encountered again and again and again.

This is not El Shaddai, whom he knew that He will always keep His word and never go back on His promises. This is not an untrustworthy God; this is a trustworthy God in whom he trusted. Abraham trusts God even in the appearance of the impossibility and the most crucial difficulty of his life. What's going on in Abraham's mind, do you think?

Well, the thing is, Genesis 22 doesn't tell us. It doesn't tell us what's going on in his mind. There are some clues there, but it doesn't tell us. Beloved, listen to me very carefully. The Bible has 40-plus writers but one author: the Holy Spirit. It's like a friend of mine says, that when the writers were writing, the Holy Spirit jumped in the ink. The Bible has one author; it's the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus.

The Bible reveals to us 2,000 years later what was going on in Abraham's mind. It's in Hebrews chapter 11, verse 17. "By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though he had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.'" Abraham reasoned—underline it in your Bible—reasoned.

That's really what's going on in his mind at that time. The Holy Spirit reveals this to us, albeit 2,000 years later. Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and practically speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Now, of course, we know in hindsight and many years later that this was a mere test. But he did not know that.

Because he passed this test, God allowed Abraham to see something that nobody else before or even since, to be truthful, allowed him to see: how God Himself is going to do what He spared Abraham from doing, and that is offer His one and only Son as a sacrifice to die for us. That's God's intention all along, to point all of Isaac's descendants to look forward to the day when the Lamb of God becomes our sacrifice.

For God, on that same mountain range, would offer His one and only Son for our salvation. You see, when Isaac asked the question, "Father, where is the lamb? Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" that was a question that will be answered only by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. That is the purpose of all Old Testament animal sacrifices.

They were pointing to the coming Lamb of God, the unblemished Lamb of God, the sinless Lamb of God, when He is slain on that cross. Abraham's answer to Isaac was a prophetic word. It was a word of prophecy about the coming of Jesus 2,000 years from that time. He said, "God will provide Himself a sacrifice." Isaac's question, "Where is the lamb?" was repeated in the Old Testament again and again.

Isaiah 53 asked, "Where is the lamb?" and the answer is the Man of Sorrows, who will be like a lamb led to the slaughter. Zechariah asked, "Where is the lamb?" Malachi asked, "Where is the lamb?" until the day a man from Galilee showed up where John the Baptist was baptizing at the River Jordan. There, at the River Jordan, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit spoke.

He said, "This is My beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased." John tells us in chapter 1, 29, that when John the Baptist saw Jesus coming, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." This is the answer to Isaac's question, for it is this Lamb of God, Jesus, that Abraham looked forward to. It is this Lamb of God, Jesus, whom every faithful believer in the Old Testament looked forward to.

It is this Lamb of God, Jesus, who is our Shepherd. It is this Lamb of God, Jesus, who alone can wash away our sin and our guilt and our shame by His holy and righteous blood on the cross. It is this Lamb of God, Jesus, who shall come again, and it may be sooner than we think, to judge both the living and the dead. When Abraham named the place Jehovah-Jireh, it's amazing.

The word "Jireh" is the same word actually in Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic, which means "see." Jehovah-Jireh, we say it, but that's from the Latin. But God will see to it. That's really a literal translation. When you say Jehovah-Jireh, you're saying God is going to see to it. God is going to see to it. Can you say that with me? God is going to see to it. That's literally what he was saying.

God Himself will see to it that He provides a Savior. God Himself will provide a way out of this dilemma between His mercy and His justice. God Himself will provide a solution to man's predicament. Whatever you might be going through right now—and some of you are going through tough times—whatever you might be facing today, you need to remember that God will provide a way out of your dilemma.

God will see to it. He will give you a way of escape. God will provide a balm to your wounds. God will compensate you for all the years that have been eaten by the locusts. God will give you His joy again. God will dry up your tears. God will see to it that you're vindicated. Amen belongs here. On Calvary, God saw to it. He saw to it. He saw to it.

For it was there on that hill and on that tree, there the love of God and the justice of God met. There on that tree, the righteousness of God and the mercy of God kissed each other, as the Psalmist said. There, the Lamb of God provided a perfect plan for salvation for everyone who will believe in Him. There's something else about this indomitable faith of Abraham I don't want you to miss.

It's in verse five. If you read the passage many times and you missed it, go back, underline it, especially one word I want to point you to. One word in that verse. Here's what Abraham said to the servants. He said, "Stay here with the donkey, and the boy and I will go up to the mountain to worship, and we—can you say that with me? We—will come back."

He didn't say, "I'm going to go there and offer Isaac and come back." He said, "No, we're going to go up and we're both going to come back." It's such confidence that God will raise Isaac from the dead. Well, what about Isaac? I don't want you to miss Isaac. Most historians place the age of Isaac at this point—because we don't know, it said, "After these things," so we don't really know, but it's a calculated guess—between the ages of 15 and 30.

So he was a strong man, young, strong man. He could have run away. His father is 100-plus years old; he could have overpowered him. He could have said, "You want me to do what?" He could have said, "Nice knowing you, Father. Goodbye. I enjoyed the three-day journey with you, Pop, but this is where I leave you. I have plans for my life. Lying on that altar is not one of them."

Beloved, listen to me. How many times do we claim that we love the Lord but only if it doesn't cost us anything? We love the Lord if the price is right. We love the Lord but only if we don't have to surrender anything. We love the Lord but only if we keep all of the blessings to us and our family. Oh, I love the Lord, I don't want to give the idols in my life up.

I love the Lord but only if I don't have to give up my wrong relationships. I love the Lord, but I don't want to give up these wrong habits, these sinful habits. No doubt Isaac grew up hearing from his parents, possibly again and again, how he is a gift of God, how his birth is supernatural and miraculous, how the promise of God for the salvation of Israel will come through his descendants.

How God's promise that he is the miracle child, that God has great plans for his life. How faithful God has been to his mom and dad. How Abraham's faith in God and trust in God became so unshakable and reaching this point of being unwavering. Now with this brief introduction, I get to my sermon. I kid you not, I have six points.

First, Abraham's obedience of faith is characterized by promptness. Can you say it with me? Promptness. "Abraham." "Here I am, Lord." Not once, not twice. "Abraham, circumcise the men in your household." He immediately did. "Abraham, let Hagar and Ishmael go." Tore his heart. "Yes, Lord." Then comes the biggest test of obedience of all time. "Abraham, take Isaac whom you love dearly. Offer him to Me." "Here I am." Prompt obedience.

Secondly, Abraham's obedience of faith is characterized by sustainability. It was prompt, but also was sustained. His obedience was carried through a long period of time. To be sure, he went through stages, but nonetheless, it was sustained a long period of time. It began when God appeared to him from nowhere at the Ur of Chaldeans, which is in modern-day Iraq, and told him to leave what is dear and leave everything behind and go to a land that he does not know where, that God is going to show him. All the way 50-plus years later with this greatest test: "Give Me your dearest and your nearest." His obedience first was prompt. Secondly, sustained.

Thirdly, it was a willing obedience. It was willing. Many of us say, "Lord, I'm willing to obey You. Surely, Lord, You know I'm willing to obey You." But then our willingness gets tested. Most of us at this point say, "Lord, am I really hearing You right? Is this really—I'm not sure if this is Your voice. Really, Lord, I don't think You want me to do this. Do You really, Lord?" And kind of drag it out. I'm going to wait until I'm really sure it is the voice of God.

Willing obedience is seen so clearly in the Garden of Gethsemane. "Father, if possible, take this cup from Me. But not My will, but Yours." Hebrews 10:7 tells us about Jesus' willing obedience in this way. Here's what Jesus said: "Here I am. It is written about Me in the scrolls. I have come to do Your will, O God." It was prompt obedience. It was sustained obedience. It was willing obedience.

Fourthly, it was settled obedience. What do I mean by that? Many of us are willing to obey. But then we get pushed and shoved with the forces of this world. We get pushed and shoved with people. We get pushed and shoved by circumstances and all kinds of factors in life to help us either not obey or do what I fall for sometimes, what I call partial obedience.

Settled obedience is what is said of Daniel. Daniel purposed in his heart. There is no equivocation. There's no wavering. He purposed in his heart. That is settled obedience. Settled obedience said of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, that He set His face toward Jerusalem like a flint. This is the opposite of convenient obedience. This is the opposite of mercurial obedience. It was prompt, sustained, willing, settled.

Fifthly, it was contagious obedience. You say, "How come?" Well, think about this. Think of the millions of believers in Christian history who have read the story of Abraham and Abraham's obedience and they cried out to God, "Lord, that's how I want my life to be. Lord, that's how I want my relationship with You to be." It is contagious.

Finally, it is a rewarded obedience. Obedience always will be rewarded. It's not always immediate, but it will be rewarded. If you look at verses 15 all the way to 19 and even a little bit further, you see how Abraham was abundantly rewarded. Not only past promises counting the stars, and the number of the stars is reiterated, reaffirmed, but He gave him a little extra. He said, "Your descendants will be like the sand of the seashore."

The Bible makes it very clear that God is faithful. But also He's going to reward faithfulness. Listen, I built my whole life on the principle that the Bible said: God is no man's debtor. He is not going to owe you anything. He's not going to be indebted to you. God will give back not just what you give Him, but He's going to give it back heaped over, shaken, overabundance of it.

Jesus was rewarded for His obedience. Not only that on the third day He rose with every ounce of His omnipotence, but also He is now reigning and ruling on the right hand of the Father in heaven. The world might be falling apart, but He is not. He is now in total control in heaven. He rules over the hearts of His children.

The day is coming—and it's a lot sooner than we may think—that every knee shall bow, and that every tongue is going to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. You and I are not only blessed for our obedience here and now, but one day—and again, I think maybe sooner than any of us think—one day we're going to hear from the lips of Jesus, "Well done. Well done. Well done." Say it with me. "Well done. Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share in the joy of your Father."

Don't ever lose sight of this. Every time you lose sight of this, you get in the dumps. Every time you lose sight of this, you get into trouble. Don't lose sight of it. Don't lose sight of it.

Guest (Male): Thank you for being part of this episode of Leading The Way with Dr. Michael Youssef. This and all of Dr. Youssef's messages can be heard at ltw.org. Just look for the listen link right there near the top of the page. You can also listen through your mobile app, but you do have to download the most updated Leading The Way app or subscribe to the podcast, but you're going to want to do that anyway. All of the details about all of this can be found at ltw.org.

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