Sacrifice.

What could you give up for God?

God promised Abraham descendants that would outnumber the stars, and land in all directions. He called Abe his friend, and told him about Sodom and Gomorrah in advance. But in exchange, God asked a lot of the ultimate “founding father.” 

“Take thy son, thy only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a sacrifice to me on Mount Moriah.” Genesis 22:2.

Wow. That’s harsh. Who could obey that? And how? Well—you put one foot in front of the other and hope God changes His mind.

But it was 60 miles. They walked there in three days—20 miles a day. Carrying a lit torch and keeping it lit all day and all night. Pulling a donkey burdened with firewood, food, water, and supplies. And all the time Abraham was carrying a burden of his own that no one could imagine. And on the third day, Isaac asked him, “Where is the lamb?” I imagine Dad couldn’t even answer that for a few minutes.

Finally: “God will provide the lamb.” Wasn’t that PROPHETIC—in two ways? 

But Abraham didn’t know what was to come. He climbed the mountain. Piled the wood. Tied up his son. He TIED. HIM. UP. Can you imagine? And he’s over 100 and Isaac was at least a teen and some believe he was in his 20s or 30s—Isaac could have run or resisted. He may have been scared and confused, but this amazing young man honored his father and submitted.

Then Abe laid him down on the pyre. Took one final look. Wiped his tears so he could see. And in one final, desperate moment, said yes to God and grabbed the handle of his knife.

“Abraham! Abraham!”

“Yes, Lord.”

“Do your son no harm! For now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son from me!”

—And God revealed a lamb caught in the thicket. Abraham untied Isaac and sacrificed the lamb. And now God really heaps on the blessings and promises. No one—absolutely NO ONE in history has a role like Abraham’s. But no one else was tested the same way.

Is there anything you could not sacrifice for God? What are you holding back? Tie it up. Lay it on the altar. Pick up the knife. Surrender to God. And THEN His greatest blessings will come. Remember, God sacrificed His Son on the altar (and there was no other lamb that could take his place). What’s your sacrifice?

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