Genesis 22:1-3 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he answered. "Take your son," He said, "your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." So early in the morning Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about."God called Abram in Genesis 12 and promised that He would make of him a great nation, and that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. On faith, Abram left Haran at 75 years of age, and on faith followed God.
At first glance, it would seem that a man who left his home, and followed God would have taken the ultimate step of faith. But God had more for him. God called Abraham to sacrifice his own son, Isaac, in full obedience to God. Abraham was obedient in following God, trusting Him all the way. This is clearly a foreshadowing of what was to come in Jesus, the Messiah. There are several lessons we can learn from this.
* When God calls us to follow Him, He expects full surrender.
Is there any area of your life in which you are holding back on God? What is God calling you to surrender? What is your Isaac, that would represent a full surrender to God if you were to lay it on the altar and completely trust God?
* Ultimately, everything in our lives belongs to God.
Do you believe that? Is your faith strong enough for it to be tested? Isaac said to his father, "the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." God always provides.
*Our walk must back up our talk.
Abraham obediently built the altar, and arranged the wood. He placed Isaac on it, on top of the wood. He took out his knife. In a most dramatic moment, the Angel of the Lord called out to Abraham and told him not to lay a hand on the boy and God provided a ram in the thicket for the sacrifice, sparing the boy. He said, "Now I know that you fear God, since you have not witheld your only son from me." Is there enough evidence in your life to demonstrate that you truly fear God? Abraham said God would provide the sacrifice and then he stepped out on faith believing that he would. His obedience demonstrated the sincerity of his faith.
*There are great blessings to lay hold of when we trust God.
The Lord said because Abraham had trusted Him, that he would bless him, and multiply his offspring, and all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Are you receiving all that God has for you? Or are you missing out because you don't trust God enough?
This has been a recurring thought in my devotional life as of late. What is my Isaac? Are there areas in which I am holding back on God? The Bible says that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. Are you believing God?
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