Abide Here with the Ass

We continued our series on Giving Back to God this Sunday from the Biblical Passage of Genesis 22:1-5 where Abraham is called to worship with God. We do a lot of things in church, but in all of our doing we don't always worship. We sing songs but don't worship; give money but don't worship, listen to the Word but don't worship.

We have cultivated the climate in church of "sit back, relax and enjoy the program". If the audience feels entertained, they say we had a good worship service; however, worship is not about us it is about God. It is not for the created but it is for the Creator. While there are benefits for us in worship, we must never forget it is not about us. Our questions should not be, Did I like the service or the sermon but rather it should be, "Was God pleased with the service or the sermon".

Although Worship appears for the first time in "word form" in Genesis 22:5, it runs all the way back to the beginning of Genesis. The Lord blessed our efforts in this sermon and the presentation was much cleaner than the preparation. We opened talking about The Man, The Moment and The Mountain. This lead us into a Walk into Worship. Within the confines of this text but in the overall picture of Giving Back to God, our outline was:

I. Worship is being Submissive to the Will of God. (Vs.1)
II. Worship is giving Sacrificially to the Word of God (Vs. 2-3)
III. Worship is being Separated for the Workers of God (Vs.5)

It was this last point where I was the most intrigued. Why would God allow this part of the story to remain in the Holy Writ. What purpose does this serve for us today to hear the instructions that Abraham left for his servants and why is it even necessary for the workers to stay with the donkey. After all, the custom would be to tie the donkey up so it doesn't stray away. After it is tied, it's not going anywhere, so why the need to stay with the donkey.

We all learn differently so I am grateful for Pastors in this town and Pastors in the nation that you can bounce ideas off of. One local pastor suggested to look at this text in the KJV. I mainly preach out of the ESV, and there it was "Abide ye here with the ass". I understood then.

It is very possible that if Abraham would have allowed the servants to go along, they would have interfered with the worship of God and Abraham would have missed "THE LORD WHO WILL PROVIDE". If they would have seen Abraham sacrificing Issac, surely they would have tried to stop it.

I said that so that I might say this, everyone is not meant to go with you on your mountain. Some people will just get in the way and as much as you might want to take them along, some people you have to leave with the ass. We must separate ourselves from any and everything that will distract us from seeing and worshipping God.

Two examples from the Bible spring to mind, II Kings 4:1-7, the famous passage about the widow and the oil. She is instructed to gather all the jars she can find and after she has done it, "Shut the Door". Why is that necessary? Some people will get in the way of your worship and you will miss your miracle of "The Lord Will Provide" so you have to leave them....., you understand. Luke 8:48-56 is the story of raising the little girl from the dead and vs 51 says, "He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden".

Why didn't Jesus allow everyone inside? Vs. 49 gives the answer as the outside people said, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master". The presence of these people would serve as a distraction and the miracle of "The Lord Will Provide would be missed so leave them with the....., you understand.

Everybody does not belong on your mountain. Worship is separation for the workers of God. I can see Abraham saying I made this mistake before. You told me to leave everything but I took my nephew Lot and I remember how that worked out, so thank you workers for your efforts in getting me here, but I must go higher now, so I must leave you where you are, but I will be back.

The night before a game all the players stay at the hotel together, even if its a home game. They do this to separate themselves form the duties and cares of life and get their mind focused on the game plan for tomorrow's game. It is meant to shut out and let in.

By saying to leave some people with the ass, it is not meant to be disrespectful of other people but in order for me to go higher, I must shut some things, situations, circumstances, acquaintances, family, friends out in order to let God in. Dead weight can prevent you from seeing God's Divine will.

I have decided to let some people "Abide here with the Ass", I am going yonder to worship.

Owens