“ ‘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 22:12
God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.”
What? God wanted him to set fire to his precious son on an altar, like he would a lamb or a calf? Seriously?
You may be thinking, “Hasn’t Abraham proven himself enough? Wasn’t it kind of cruel of God to put him through this?” But just as always, Abraham did exactly as he was told. It’s hard not to imagine the tears of sadness pouring down Abraham’s face when he bound his son and put him on the altar and raised the knife. Or the tears of relief when God stopped his hand and provided a ram to use instead.
That’s the kind of obedience that separates the people who say they believe in God and want to serve him, and the people who really do. God no longer asks his children to go this far, but he can ask a lot. Are you ready for that?
More to Explore: Psalm 128:1 and 2 John 1:6
Girl Talk: What could you let go of this week that would make God smile? Your turn in the front seat? The brownie in your lunch?
God Talk: “God, thank you for providing a ram for Abraham and for sacrificing your son on the cross so that my sins could be forgiven. If you ever ask me to make big — or little — sacrifices for my faith, give me the courage to do that. Amen.”
From That Is So Me by Nancy Rue