A 2nd Look
VICTORY can be seen and understood through the lives of Abraham and Sarah. They were faced with a situation resembling DEFEAT as well. Yet, God used the situation to give them the desires of their heart, bring about His purpose for their lives, and demonstrate to you and me His astounding power! God told Abraham, look take your son, Isaac—yes, the one you love and give him as a burnt offering to me. To any parent, this would be a nightmare! God wanted him to know that He understood just how important Isaac was to him, and He knew Abraham loved his son. Strange. Wouldn’t you say! God knew how long Abraham and Sarah had waited for their son. In fact, He knew how they had longed for a child.
Sarah was an older woman and except for God working that miracle, there was NO WAY she could have been physically able to have a baby. She was over 90 years old. God wanted Abraham to know that He knew exactly what He was asking him to do and yes, He wanted him to do it. Without hesitation, Abraham did as he was instructed. He took his beloved son, whom he had prayed for, and was prepared to give him to the Lord as an offering. Again, God required total obedience to Him. Abraham was willing to do what God said, and how He said do it. Surely VICTORY looked like DEFEAT to Abraham. All that praying and waiting and when God finally answered his prayer, look at what He now wants. Despite this, Abraham did all that God told him and it was not until AFTER his obedience, that VICTORY came running in as a ram.
God used the ram instead. Know this, God is faithful. Can you trust Him with your Isaac—your most prized possession? Are you willing to give up all to receive God’s best for you.
The Ultimate Example
It must have been a pretty dim and sad day when the disciples saw Jesus being humiliated and laughed at—hanging on a cross. Jesus, the one they had walked with. The one they had witnessed performing many miracles. The one they had heard say, He was going to prepare a place for them. The one they had heard say, He was the way, and no one could come to the Father, but by Him. Oh, it must have been a pretty dim and sad day for the disciples as they saw what they believed to be the end of their hope hanging on that dreadful cross.
VICTORY must have looked like DEFEAT to them, when they had to witness Him taking his cross on His own shoulders.
VICTORY must have looked like DEFEAT as He hung there between the two thieves.
VICTORY must have looked like DEFEAT when the crowd sarcastically told Him if you are who you claim to be, come on down from the cross.
VICTORY must have looked like DEFEAT when hung His head, and uttered it is finished, but then died! It must have looked pretty dim. Yet, it was AFTER Jesus’ obedience that we saw VICTORY come running in through His resurrection and all power in Heaven and in Earth.
When it looked as if all was lost, and as though there was no hope for us, and looked as if the end had occurred, God presented Jesus with all power. He got up from the dead and paid the penalty for our sins. His death gave us life—eternal life. VICTORY came through the eyes of supposedly DEFEAT.
YOUR VICTORY THROUGH DEFEAT
No matter how dim your situation may look right now, be obedient and trust God. God told Habakkuk, the just shall live by faith. Just trust God to handle your situation. If you remember, the VICTORY came in doing it HOW, WHEN and WHAT God said do. It may look like DEFEAT, but you have to be obedient anyway. VICTORY was there all along, but it did not make itself known until after obedience.
I know God is faithful and will see you through. Trust God, believe God. He is able to turn what seems like DEFEAT into a major VICTORY!
Scripture Reading
1 Kings, Chapter 17
Genesis, Chapters 21, 22
John 14:1-6; John 19:17-18
Matthew 27:28-31; 27:39-43; 28:5-6; 28:18
Psalms 32:8
2 Corinthians 5:7
