The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 22:1-5, “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’
2 He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.
5 Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’”

How many times did it take you to become obedient? Obedient to whom? Well, your parents, your grandparents, your uncles, your aunts, your teachers… you know! How many times?

Quite honestly, had you known this was a test, you might have minded them sooner. Abraham, however, did not have the luxury of knowing what God ultimately intended. He only knew what God had told him –and that wasn’t much. In fact, the word “worship” is mentioned only once in our passage above (v. 5). Moreover, the LORD had previously told Abraham nothing other than his son was to be offered as a sacrifice. Wow!

Still, Abraham’s faith was enormously strong. Look at his words to the young men who accompanied them: “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there, and we will worship and return to you.” The word “worship” is mentioned 183 times from Genesis to Revelation; but what does “worship” mean?

We say, “We’re going to worship this morning,” but what does that entail? Do we really worship? The word “worship” is a Hebrew word meaning “bowing down.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary goes further by saying that it is “homage rendered to God, which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being.” It was a homage that Peter refused back in Acts 10:25-26 and Revelation 22:8-9.

Interestingly, it is a “reverence” afforded to Almighty God –a reverence that esists mostly in churches many would not consider as evangelical. From a practical-theological viewpoint, things have become twisted in our day. Some pastors of yester-year used to kneel and bow at their pulpits prior to bringing God’s message to their congregations. The singing of hymns may also be considered “worship,” provided that they are sung humbly to the LORD.

Closing one’s eyes in prayer is also worshipful, provided it is for the right reason. As a boy, I can remember asking my dad why he closed his eyes when prayer was being offered. He said it was to shut out everything that would take his mind off of the LORD! That’s a habit I have continued to use throughout my lifetime.

Join with me in bowing with closed eyes when you pray. Shut out what ought to be, and learn to worship the LORD in true, spiritual, worshipful music and prayer.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom