Your Breakthrough May Be Caught in the Thicket

A few nights ago, just as I was about to fall asleep I heard the Lord say, "Your breakthrough may be caught in the thicket." This was such an unusual thing to hear that I mulled it over for a moment then knew I needed to get up and reread the familiar story in Genesis 22.

In this story we find that God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, on an altar as a burnt offering. Abraham rises early the next morning and sets out to do the very thing that God had required. He arrives at the location and prepares the altar and then binds his son, placing him on the altar. Just as he reached out his hand to slay Isaac, an angel of the Lord stops him from the act and says, "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." (Gn. 22:12b)

It was at this dramatic moment that Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham sacrificed the ram as a burnt offering and called that place "The Lord Will Provide."

We are in a season where powerful and life-changing deliverances will occur, many times at the very last minute as it did for Abraham. Your breakthrough may be "caught in the thicket", set aside for just the right moment, as it was for Abraham. Be on the alert for doors that will open just in time.

Just as He had already provided the ram, God has already provided for your breakthrough. It is important to follow the steps of obedience that He gives to you. Abraham would have never found the ram in the thicket had he not been willing to obey the severest of directives from God. But, Abraham did obey, and in doing so he passed the test, then having an encounter with God that would mark him and his descendants forever.

God has powerful encounters waiting for you who have set your hearts to obey. God does not demand perfection of us, but He loves sharing with us His love and good gifts that open up to us on the pathway of obedience.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, the glory of Kings to search it out." Prov. 25:2. God will sometimes conceal His breakthrough, "hiding it in the thicket" to reveal His glory unto a greater measure. How sweet was the glory of God's provision that Abraham experienced at the place of obedience and sacrifice!

God revealed Himself as Jehovah-Jireh, "The Lord Will Provide". This encounter was strategic for the moment that Abraham found himself in, but maybe even more strategic for Abraham's descendants. Not long after Abraham offered the ram on the altar, the angel of the Lord spoke again to Abraham and renewed the covenant He had spoken with Abraham earlier, and even expanded on it.

Abraham's obedience effected generations as the Lord said, "Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."(Gn. 22:17b-18)

God is so good to reveal Himself to us in the moments that we need Him the most! Be watchful and alert, for God is bringing powerful, life-changing breakthroughs and deliverance to many as you put your trust in Him.