“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Genesis 22:1-12 When time allows please read on thru verse 19.
This lesson struck me this morning. While it is so hard to imagine being willing to sacrifice one’s own child to obey God, I think that Abraham knew that God would never ask him to do that. Even before the 10 commandments, we know that the people of God knew that murder was wrong. Abraham demonstrates his absolute trust in God’s loving nature when he follows his command and expects God to deliver and protect his son’s life. Abraham also knew that God had promised that he would make his descendants as plentiful as the stars in the sky. We can trust God to deliver on his promises. Always.
This story also foreshadows the amazing sacrifice that God the father made for each and every one of us who call him Lord. He indeed did sacrifice his one and only son for us. He allowed him to suffer a vary painful death and be mocked by us sinners and ultimately die to reestablish a relationship with us. I think all of us who are parents cringe when we read this story because he wonder, I would never sacrifice my son or daughter. I don’t think God ever planned to follow through on that, but he was setting us up to appreciate at a more personal level the amazing gift that he gave to us through the death of his one and only son, Jesus.
Friends, be blessed today knowing that Our God loves us SO MUCH! Every gift that we have comes from Him! We are to follow in Abraham’s footsteps and TRUST GOD with even our most cherished blessings knowing that God has a good plan and his plan never fails.
Father God, forgive us when we fall short and cling too tightly to the things of this world. Renew our faith and trust in you today that we may be willing to offer up everything you give us back to you for your use and service knowing that your will is good and you are amazing. We love you. In Jesus’s precious name we pray, AMEN.
Deidre Brinkmeyer Larson