A Rock in an Offering Place
BIBLE STORY:
In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham by asking that he sacrifice his son, Isaac. Early the following day, Abraham saddles his donkey, takes his son and two servants to where God had asked to sacrifice his son. On their third day on the offering grounds, Abraham sees where he is to offer his son and instructs his two servants to stay behind and let he and his son “go over there and worship and come again.” On their way, Isaac sees wood and knife but no lamb for burnt offering.
““Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?””
When he asks his father, Abraham tells him “God will provide for himself the lamb for burnt offering.” They arrived at the location of offering and Abraham tied up his son to offer as a burnt offering. Just when he is about to strike his son, the angel of the Lord appears to Abraham calling off the sacrifice of Isaac, to offer a ram instead. Seeing that Abraham was willing to give up his son Isaac, the Lord blessed Abraham and his entire lineage for generations to come.
MY TAKEAWAY:
In the text, Abraham never really tells anyone what he was getting ready to do. Isaac was Abraham’s only son whom he loved so much. He told his servants he and Isaac would “go over there to worship and come back.” Was Abraham in denial? Abraham didn’t lie, but he also didn’t tell the truth either, so how did he know everything would be alright? I cant imagine what it was like during those three days Abraham waited to sacrifice his son. This text delivers a message about obedience, faith and sacrifice. There could be a moment where God asks you to give up something or someone you love for Him. I’ve been there before and its far from easy! It’s a scary experience. I know I’m no Abraham because when God told me to give up what I loved, my immediate answer was no. I thought I was crazy to even be asked such a thing. One thing I’ve learned from my personal experience is that there will always be better things on the other side of sacrifice. Despite God’s extreme request, there was no way God could have Abraham sacrifice his son, because that would’ve affected Jesus’ coming a few generations later. Of course Abraham didnt know this but he was rewarded for his obedience in the end with the promise to “multiply [his] offspring as the stars of heaven an as the sand that is on the seashore.”
Would you be able to give up something you love in the name of obedience?