“…indeed, I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand, which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.” (Genesis 22:18 NASB)
Abraham was surely blessed because he did not withhold his son, his only son, whom he loved on Mount Moriah. You know the story. Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac and right on time (That’s how God works!), God sent a ram in the bush to take the place of Isaac on the Altar of sacrifice. (That’s how God works! And the best example is His sending His only begotten Son.) As you see in the opening verse, God promised to bless Abraham greatly. (That’s how God works! God is a promise keeper, isn’t He?) Look at the specific blessing! God would bless Abraham, multiply Abraham’s seeds as the stars of the heave, too innumerable to count, and as the sand which is on the seashore. That multiplication would go all the way to the Jesus and even as far as our generation, and the generations of believers to come. Now imagine the grains of sand on the seashore. That’s a lot of blessings! God is in the blessing business. (That’s how God works!)
I preached from Genesis 22 this past Sunday, and I did mention sand blessings. However, I don’t think I painted the best picture I could paint. I am not sure I helped listeners grasp the idea of sand blessings as it relates to our individual lives.
So, picture how much sand was in the school yard sandbox. Or, if you prefer, picture the sand that was in your backyard sandbox. Let me make sure I paint a picture by which all can relate. Remember the elevated sandbox that was in the children’s classroom in Sunday School back in the day? Maybe you have been on a sandy beach somewhere in your country or abroad, just one of God’s created sandboxes. Now, with whatever picture you decided to see in your mind, go a little bit further and recollect how you picked up sand in one hand and you could not even hold it. It kept oozing out between your fingers, and on each side of your hand, for it was just too much. Use your imagination. If you were to attempt to count the grains of sand remaining, even with the use of a microscope, you still would be challenged to count them all!
My point is this my friend! That’s how it is with the Lord’s blessings! They are too much for you to count. They are too numerous for you to hold in one hand! Yes, think about it! The Lord has blessed you so much that you would be challenges to count them all! And guess what! He will keep blessing you, as it was with Abraham, for your obedience and the sacrificing of what you hold dearly; your time that you hold dearly, your talent that your hold dearly, you’re your treasure that you hold dearly. I think somebody ought to make a tee-shirt with a hand filled with sand, sand dripping from the hand, and include an inscription, “The Lord’s blessings on me are too many to count!” (Somebody say, “He’s blessing me right now!” Yes, He is! (That’s how God works!) And since He has blessed you, share your blessing, even if it is just in the form of a testimony, with someone else today! Be blessed!
“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need, and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King