Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. – Genesis 22:2
Do you ever feel as though what the Lord is asking of you is just too much? God had long before promised Abraham a son, and, at last, at Abraham’s advanced age of 100, that promise was fulfilled. This was the son who would be the beginning of a great heritage since God had said Abraham would be the father of many nations. No doubt, the patriarch and his son had expectations of a great future. Then, in today’s verse, the Lord ordered Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham was faced with an incredible choice—to obey God whom he loved or spare the son he also loved. Was God asking too much?
The Lord sometimes tests His people. He may ask you to do things you don’t want to do or give up something you would rather hold onto. It is as if He is asking, “Where am I in your life?” Many will choose the path of faith and obedience, but others will walk away. When Isaac questioned his father, Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb” (Genesis 22:8, KJV). Without knowing it, Abraham foretold what would happen at Calvary when God, in the person of Jesus Christ, did provide Himself as the Lamb sacrificed to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
Abraham had made the decision to surrender completely to God, and God, in His love for Abraham and honoring His promise, made the provision Abraham needed at just the right moment. So, what priority does God have in your life? Have you come to that place of absolute surrender? Your faith may be tested, and when it is, will it “be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7)? Ask the Lord to help you live faithfully and that believers in government positions would serve with genuine faith, obviously surrendered to the Lord.
Today’s Verse: Genesis 22:2
He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Genesis 22:1-19
22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
