The Sacrifice

Genesis 20-22 Matthew 7:15-29 Psalm 9:1-12 Proverbs 2:16-22

“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8 ESV).

For years Abraham had looked forward to the son God had promised him. Isaac was a miracle child. Nobody was having children in the 90s and 100s anymore. Now God was asking Abraham to sacrifice what was most dear to him—the son God had promised. Abraham had struggled with believing God’s promise of a son, even tried to help God fulfill the promise. But it seems the birth of Isaac has cemented Abraham’s faith. Hebrews 11 says that Abraham believed God and God’s power to bring Isaac back to life. Of course, God stops Abraham from actually killing Isaac, but in his heart, Abraham really did sacrifice Isaac. In a way, he really did get Isaac back from the dead.

God wants to bless us and give us good things. However, it is important not to let these blessings and gifts to become more important to us than the One who gave them. Abraham was only able to sacrifice Isaac because he had made God king of his life and trusted God with what was most valuable to him.

Who would you trust with that which is most valuable? How well would you have to know this person before turning control over to them? We have to choose whether we will allow God to rule in our lives and in our hearts. He shows us His qualities by providing the sacrifice needed to rescue us—that which was most precious to Him.

Father God, thank You for giving up what You loved most to save us. Nothing we have, no matter how much we love it, could ever have paid that price. We want to be king in our lives today. Everything we have is Yours. It is a small offering compared to Your love, but it is all we have. Amen.