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Genesis 22:4-12

On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 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.” 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. 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?”  Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.  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.  Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.  But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”   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.”

The remarkable story of Abraham begins in Genesis 12 when God invited him and his wife, Sarah, to leave everything they had known and follow him into an unknown future. If they followed, God promised to make Abraham into “a great nation” that would bless “all the families of the earth.” But years later, the couple, now well advanced in years, had not been blessed with a child. Then, when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, God said that a son was on the way. Although God did not appreciate the response, we can understand why Sarah “laughed to herself” at the thought of having a baby at such an age. But all God’s promises come true. She named the boy Isaac which means “he laughs.” Sarah had laughed in scorn; now, she laughed with great joy and knew that everyone would join in joyful laughter with her. But in our passage today, no one was laughing.

God gave Abraham an unbelievable assignment. He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac—the son of promise. But even in this great test, Abraham believed in the promises of God. Notice his words to his servants—“I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Notice his words to Isaac in response to the question, “But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”—“God will provide for himself the lamb….” Abraham believed…even as he reached for the knife. Abraham believed…even as the angel of the Lord stopped him.

God never intended for Abraham to sacrifice his son. But God had to know the depth of Abraham’s love and obedience. God had great things for Abraham to do, but he had to know that Abraham was “all in.” So here’s the question:  Are you “all in?” Is there any obstacle that lies in the sacred space between you and God? An ungodly habit? A destructive addiction? A dangerous relationship? A god-like possession? Bowing before money? Lukewarmness? The real question is this: Can you believe in the promise of God to satisfy you without all the other stuff? Is there anything in your life you need to relent?

Father, what would you have us sacrifice? Give us the strength and faith to put it on the altar. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Today’s Journey Message:

Revenge