Genesis 22:1 (vii) After these things, God tested Avraham. He said to him, “Avraham!” and he answered, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Yitz’chak; and go to the land of Moriyah. There you are to offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that I will point out to you.”
Who hasn’t heard Abbott and Costello’s comedy routine, “Who’s On First?” It is clever, comical, and yet subtly one of life’s most important questions, especially regarding worship. When it comes to worship, it isn’t who’s on first, but Who is first. This was an issue Abraham had to decide and a challenge for all of us to wrestle with.
In Genesis 22 we read how God in His goodness and desire to “grow” Abraham, tested him. God took what was most precious to Abraham, someone who could easily have become an idol, asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac’s life. As Abraham was dying inwardly to himself and his future I don’t imagine he slept much. I feel certain, however, that God convinced Abraham, as he struggled, that God was bigger than his crisis.
What carried Abraham to victory? He trusted in God’s Word more than his circumstances. The Book of Hebrews describes Abraham as faithful, obedient, trusting, "longing for a better country," and reasoning "that God was able" to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:8-19). With Abraham’s complete surrender to God, true worship took place, and God provided the sacrifice. Isn't it time we followed
3 Avraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with Yitz’chak his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, departed and went toward the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day, Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance. 5 Avraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you.” 6 Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz’chak his son. Then he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went on together.
7 Yitz’chak spoke to Avraham his father: “My father?” He answered, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Avraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”; and they both went on together.
9 They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz’chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10 Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
11 But the angel of Adonai called to him out of heaven: “Avraham? Avraham!” He answered, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy! Don’t do anything to him! For now I know that you are a man who fears God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.
-------Who hasn’t heard Abbott and Costello’s comedy routine, “Who’s On First?” It is clever, comical, and yet subtly one of life’s most important questions, especially regarding worship. When it comes to worship, it isn’t who’s on first, but Who is first. This was an issue Abraham had to decide and a challenge for all of us to wrestle with.
In Genesis 22 we read how God in His goodness and desire to “grow” Abraham, tested him. God took what was most precious to Abraham, someone who could easily have become an idol, asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac’s life. As Abraham was dying inwardly to himself and his future I don’t imagine he slept much. I feel certain, however, that God convinced Abraham, as he struggled, that God was bigger than his crisis.
What carried Abraham to victory? He trusted in God’s Word more than his circumstances. The Book of Hebrews describes Abraham as faithful, obedient, trusting, "longing for a better country," and reasoning "that God was able" to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:8-19). With Abraham’s complete surrender to God, true worship took place, and God provided the sacrifice. Isn't it time we followed
Abraham's example of faithful obedience?
"Is Your All on the Altar" by Elisha A. Hoffman
"Is Your All on the Altar" by Elisha A. Hoffman
1. You have longed for sweet peace, and for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest, or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.
Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart, does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
2. Would you walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
And have peace and contentment alway;
You must do His sweet will to be free from all ill;
On the altar your all you must lay.
Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart, does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
3. Oh, we never can know what the Lord will bestow
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and soul He doth fully control,
And our all on the altar is laid.
Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart, does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
4. Who can tell all the love He will send from above!
Oh, how happy our heart will be made!
Oh, what fellowship sweet we shall share at His feet,
When our all on the altar is laid!
Refrain: Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart, does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.
Thought for Today:
Moreover, love is this: that we should live according to his commands. This is the command, as you people have heard from the beginning; live by it!(2 John 1:6).
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leader in the Republic of South Africa.
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