Divine Opportunity II: Ram in a thicket

Divine Opportunity II: Ram in a thicket

Genesis 22:13-19.

And Abraham lifted up his eyes , and looked , and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns : and Abraham went and took the ram , and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son .  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day , …. By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thin , and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore ; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.  So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 

Opportunity is chance, time, promise, opening, Idea, access, ability, eligibility, open door, potential, entitlement, provision, or God’s instruction whose time has come. The right or favourable time and circumstances for something is its opportunity.  Opportunities have a life span within which to seize the opportunity. An opportunity can be real or an illusion, current or in the future. God opens doors but when all kinds of doors swing open you better check the fingerprints on the door handles. Not all open doors are opened by God. Once a car followed behind me at night on a country road flashing lights as if to stop me.  After ignoring for a while, I pulled off the road and the car overtook to pull off in front of me. Hardly had it stopped when all four doors swung open. I sensed danger and took off in a manner my car had never experienced before. The car followed for a while until to my relief its lights faded behind me.  Open doors can be a sign of danger.  We learn from the account of Abraham how to respond to divine opportunity.

>> See the Opportunity (Genesis 22:13). Abraham lifted his eyes when God stopped him from sacrificing his only son. If you do not listen and obey God, you will kill your son.  The child lived but Abraham died to the child and was alive to God.  He then lifted up his eyes. You cannot pursue an opportunity unless you become aware of it.  Abraham became aware of the ram that was there to sacrifice instead of his son. The opportunities you become aware of relate to the kind of sacrifice you will give at the altar.  Thank God, the ram was caught in a thicket. Abraham did not have to chase it all over the mountain. No one can shut out divine opportunity for you. It is a secured gift. No one – not even the devil, can do anything about it. What God provides will not escape. It is caught up in a thicket, up for you to grab. Jesus mentioned an opportunity for all.  ‘Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white [Souls ready to be harvest] already to harvest (John 4:35).’  

>> Seize the opportunity (Genesis 22:15 -17). Divine opportunities have to be captured and harnessed within their life span. Abraham went and took the ram. You also set goals and plans that you implement to take your opportunity. Be courageous to take steps to go towards your goals. In one of Mr Bean movies, he confidently goes on to the swimming pool diving board. He however takes long to make the jump. Taking steps to dive only to hesitantly look around and retreat. In the end, he hangs on the board but still not letting go of it. Eventually someone steps on his fingers then off he went into the water. Those who set out boldly in faith to get them capture opportunities.  Divine opportunities are gifts from God. Divine opportunities are God sized and require faith to capture them. What you do about them is your gift to God. He opens doors but it is your prerogative to walk through the door. 

Abraham went and took the ram. We do not know how intricately it was caught up. He worked to untangle it. He did something that showed his faith. Hebrews 11 heroes of faith are remembered not for their good ideas and thoughts but for what they did, their practical faith. Take action. Leave your comfort zone. Brace yourself to overcome fear, pain, hardworking, late nights, fasting, and suffering and apply yourself fully towards attaining your Divine opportunity goals. Ignore sceptics and fire extinguishers. Forget the past (Phil 3:13, 14). Take your lessons and do it better this time. Be more realistic. Trust again, sing again, love again, reach out again, pray again, give again, shout again, hope again, rise up again, start again, and look again. Only do what you do differently and better as necessary. You have opportunity to do something about your situation.  Remember insanity is doing the same things and expect different results.

Action of faith will face resistance. Paul saw an opportunity for the gospel in Ephesus when the situation there was pointing to the contrary (1Cor 16:7-9).   However, while acknowledging that he saw a great open door, he also acknowledges that where he saw opportunity there were also many adversaries.  Where there is opportunity there will be opponents and opposition.  You however dare not look at problems but the opportunity that come with the problems. Overcome fear, instead of seeing a problem in every opportunity decide to see an opportunity in every problem.  In Numbers, ten spies saw indomitable giants where two saw an open door (Numbers 13).  The later remembered that God prepares a table in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23).

A story is told - Old men Rufus and Clarence lived on opposite sides of the river and they hated each other. Every morning Rufus and Clarence would go down to their respective sides of the river and yell insults at each other.    Each would end up by saying that if only they could swim they would swim across and teach the other physical lessons. It so happened that someone built a bridge across the river.  The men continued their verbal trading until Rufus wife thought enough was enough. She confronted her husband and challenged him to use the bridge and go across to settle matters finally. Rufus gathered courage and took off for the other side. Two-thirds across the bridge he saw a sign – clearance ahead ten meters wide and three meters high. He stopped before turning the opposite direction running back home. When asked about his expedition he said he did not know Clarence was ten meters wide and three meters high. He looked small across the river. Often what we fear is a creation of our imagination apart from God.

>> Stay in the Spirit (Genesis 22:13). Be diligent and faithful.  a) Abraham took the ram and was faithful to bring it to the altar. He did not decide to take the 'spoil' to his family for dinner. He did not rationalise that it was so good and best for breading so it multiplies. He trusted God and used it for its purpose. Do not be greedy. Do not receive by the Spirit to use by the spirit of the world.  Jehovah Jireh means one who gives something to offer to God, something to use and enjoy for his glory and something to employ in ministry. Do not receive by faith to use by the flesh. If you cannot sacrifice yourself to God, you cannot sacrifice your things to God. For Abraham (Genesis 22:16-19), the result of his faithfulness was blessing upon blessing and multiplication upon multiplication. For not holding back from God one son, God did not hold back from him sons as many as stars in the sky and sand on the seashore.  Not only was be blessed but he became God’s agent to bless nations.

b) Abraham stayed with others (Genesis 22:19). He returned to the young according to what he promised them and they went back to Beersheba. The statement sounds very ordinary. He was still human and approachable.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa