Hurricane Katrina left one poor grandmother and grandson stranded on a rooftop for days. Finally, a boat came and took them to the convention center; later a bus drove them to Atlanta. In a TV interview, the grandmother said she had no money, the boy’s mother was on drugs, and his father was dead. A local university called to give her a job, another gave her grandson a 4-year scholarship, and someone who saw the interview on TV promised to build her a home. She jumped for joy and said, “Thank God for the storm and rain.” God tested Abraham’s faith asking him to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. On their way, the boy asked his father, “Where is the lamb?” Abraham said, “God will provide a sheep for the offering.” As Abraham raised his knife to slay his son, God called to him to say “Abraham, Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” “Now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” We then read in Genesis chapter 22 that Abraham saw a ram caught in a bush and offered him instead of his son. When God asks us to give up something we cherish, if we obey we may find He has already prepared a ram as a reward us for our faithfulness.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
