Of all the words in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done” are probably the hardest to say. After all, what if God’s will is something that is hard or something we don’t want or something that requires great loss? But yet when Jesus uttered these words He prayed it as a model for us to follow, not as a verse to quote.
The Lord’s Prayer is not the only time Jesus said, “Your will be done.” He also said those words in the garden as He prayed the night before His death. He asked God to take away the trial of the cross, but in the end He prayed, “May Your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). The will of God was that Jesus go to the cross that we might have eternal life.
The walk to the cross is one of the most vivid pictures of obedience we see in all of Scripture. Yes, Jesus went to the cross because of love, but even more than that because He wanted to be obedient to the will of His father. By the time He got to the cross, He was so beaten He was barely recognizable. And it started with “Your will be done.”
Before Jesus made this journey, there were others who stepped out to the unknown as an act of obedience.
Noah built an ark, and Joshua marched around a wall. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son; the son he had waited for most of his life, the one who would make him the father of many nations, the very hope of Israel he took to the mountain. He left his house knowing only that God had asked him to go. His marching orders were “Go to the place I will show you.” It was a step-by-step act of faith and obedience. Where did he find the courage? What can we learn from him?
Abraham knew that it was God speaking to him.
He knew and recognized God’s voice. With all the voices crying out to us today, it is more important than ever that we know we are acting out of obedience to God and not obedience to other influences. John 10:5 says, “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” God will never speak contrary to the words He has spoken to us in the Bible. So to be sure it is God telling you to do something, line it up with His Word. If it doesn’t line up, then it is not from God.
Abraham kept listening for God’s voice all along his journey.
It was not until the very end that God sent an angel to tell him about the substitute ram. What an amazing reminder of the importance of a daily quiet time and frequent communication with God! Just imagine what could have happened if Abraham had stopped listening. Isaac’s story might be vastly different.
Abraham trusted the character of God.
He knew God was holy, just, good, loving, and true to His Word. If God promised Abraham would be the father of many nations then it was a done deal. He was living out Ephesians 3:20 in Genesis 22. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Abraham’s plan for the nations was Isaac; God’s plan for the nations was Jesus.
Abraham learned “The Lord Will Provide!”
Genesis 22:14 says, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” For us, the important thing is to stay on the mountain of the Lord through our Bible study, prayer time, worship, and service. Then praying “Your will be done” will always take us to the place where God provides and will do exceedingly more than we could ever imagine or hope.
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