Would you be willing to sacrifice?

The beginning of the year I started reading through the bible with a group of wonderful ladies. Last week one of my readings was Genesis 22, as I was reading this section just spoke to me and really made me think.

(Genesis 22:1-12 ESV)

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

This story in Genesis 22 about Abraham and Isaac has always been one of my very favorites. It is a true story of faith in the almighty God and knows that He will provide. When you read the story it amazes me how when the Lord cam to Abraham, told him to sacrifice his only son; Abraham set out to do it without question. Each time I read this passage it makes me think of the times when God wanted me to do something and instead of just doing it I question.

Now, Abraham was and still is considered a man of great faith. Even with a difficult request, he was faithful that God would provide. Look at verse 7, Isaac asks where is the offering; Abraham with tremendous faith says “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” That is and amazing sentence, because even though God had sent Abraham out to sacrifice his only son Abraham had faith that God would make the provision.

If God made provision for Abraham then, God who loved us so much that He sent His only son would make provision for us. When was the last time God asked you to sacrifice something? Did you do it without question, without pouting without hesitation? When was the last time God told you to do something and you just did it, having faith that if a provision was needed God would provide?

Would love your thoughts.

Tracy