God reveals Himself and our response in faith is essential. Abram began that journey of faith in Gen. 12, having to put faith in God's revealing Himself and His purposes to Abram as he made the journey. We can follow the journey and see Abram become Abraham as he grows through his failures and obedience in faith, as God brings him to the ultimate test of his faith in Gen. 22:2: "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Abraham was ready to obey God before he knew what would happen. He was in preparation for experiencing God in worship, a worship that was full of faith.
Why would Abraham be so willing to obey God? Because God had proven to Abraham in the fulfillment of His promise that Abraham could trust God and follow His direction without reservation. His sacrifice would be an act of worship that he believed by faith that God would be there for him at both his point of faithfulness and his need. In verse 5 the Hebrew word for worship is shachah. It is used more than 100 times in the O.T. It gives the picture of someone bowing or prostrating himself on the ground before God; the lesser one responding to the One who is greater. It was a physical action that also translates into a condition of the heart before God. God's acceptance of our worship is dependent on our belief - our faith - that He is our only source and that without Him we can do nothing. (John 15:5-8) mjm
