Genesis 22:8: “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.”
Observation:
Abraham was asked by God to do the hardest thing in the world — to lose one of your children. This was especially tough because Isaac was his only son of promise — and even harder because Abraham was the one who would take his life. I know Hebrews says Abraham believed God would raise Isaac up from death, but what was going through his mind as they made this trip? Did he try to explain it to his wife? What was he thinking as he and Isaac walked up the mountain — fire, wood and knife in hand, but no sacrifice. And what went through his mind when his son asked him, “Dad, where is the sacrifice?” All the while knowing his son was the lamb. Abraham responded by saying “The Lord will provide for himself.” In Abraham’s mind God had already provided in a way. Isaac was a miracle child, born to an old man with a barren wife. God had provided the very sacrifice he required. It was in giving back to God what He had provided that Abraham demonstrated a true act of worship — valuing God above all things. And he demonstrated his fear and reverence for the Lord — the angel said, “Now I know you fear God.” Offering the sacrifice in obedience to God was an act of trust in God’s goodness and faithfulness to provide. God was providing Abraham with faith to believe in the impossible as he acted in obedience to make this sacrifice. In the end, God provided a ram and Abraham called the place “God will provide.” But he only learned that God was a faithful provider when he, with trembling hand, offered back to God the most precious thing God had ever given him.
Application:
To me this is an incredible story of faith and trust. As a father of a son, I can’t fathom the idea of sacrificing what is most precious to me … not even for God. But the truth is God provided my child. He is a gift from God (Psalm 127) and according to the bible his life is in God’s hands. Anything God ever asks me to give up to him, He Himself has already provided to me. On the other side of that, this scripture promises that if I will trust God as provider and make sacrifices of obedience to him, that I will know even greater provision from God. I know this isn’t teaching me that I give in order to get- but it is unmistakable that one of he blessings of obedience is many times a greater provision from God because I have demonstrated a trust in him and a love for him. In my life — my sacrifices of obedience should be motivated by my worship of God — He is more important than anything; my fear of God — He is God Most High, the One who is in control of all things; my trust in God — He can raise the dead and will never do anything to hurt me. When I offer any offering to God — my kids, my time, my money, my life, whatever it is, when I offer it to God I must do so remembering in my mind that He gave it to me in the first place and with a heart that worships, fears and trusts in Him.
Prayer:
Father I come to you with a conflicted spirit within me. On the one hand I do believe you and trust you and know that you can do anything. I want my love for you to be genuine and greater than anything else in my life. But on the other hand I know that there are things in my life that compete with you — things I’m not sure I would easily lay on the altar of sacrifice. I know you aren’t asking me to take the life of my kids, but God are there things or a thing in my life that you are asking me to offer you so that you can demonstrate that you are the Lord who provides? Have you given me something that you want me to offer back as an act of worship, fear and trust? Lord I sit before you now with an open hand my time I give; my family I give; my mind I give; my money I give; my life I give. They are yours. Help my eyes to look to you alone for my provision. I declare to you that I want to value you above all things. I declare to you I want to fear you more than death. I declare to you that my trust is in you. Be my provider today. And Lord the things I have laid on your altar today, please help me not to reclaim them as my own.
— Chip Henderson, senior pastor
