After much inspiration from Ed Dobson's teaching at Mars Hill last weekend, Mike taught this week from the story of the Akedah, or the binding of Isaac. Abraham's last and final test comes when God asks him to sacrifice "your son, your favored one, the one whom you love, Isaac." You can sense the tension building. Abraham's response three times in this story (to God, Isaac, and the angel of the Lord) is "hineni" or "Here I am (indicates readiness, attentiveness, receptivity and responsiveness to instructions)". This is such an amazing story and it shows us the depth of Abraham's faith (which was credited to him as righteousness) and the love of God in providing a substitute on Isaac's behalf. We are grateful for the ultimate substitute of Jesus on our behalf. Spend some time this week thinking about how God is calling you in your life and try to respond in your heart by saying "hineni".
If you want to dig deeper, check out Genesis 22, Romans 4 and Hebrews 11.
*The village community consists of a group of people, linked by blood, using land held communally for cultivation*
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