‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ Hebrews 11:17 NKJV
In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his country, his family, and his security. When he said yes to God, he travelled an unfamiliar path to an unknown destiny based on the strength of a promise. Without hesitating, the 75year–old patriarch [father of the nation of Israel] ‘went, as the Lord had told him.’ (Genesis 12:4 NIV)
Now fast–forward 25 years and Isaac is born; the miracle son who would fulfil God’s promise that through Abraham’s descendants ‘all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice.’ (Genesis 26:4–5 NKJV) Then God makes a heart–wrenching demand: ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.’ (Genesis 22:2 NIV) And in obedience to God’s Word, ‘the next morning Abraham got up and… took with him… his son Isaac.’ (Genesis 22:3 NIV) God’s promised blessing was contingent upon Abraham’s willingness to let go of what he loved most. Holding on to Isaac would have been natural and understandable, but it would have short–circuited the promised blessing.
So, what are you clinging to that’s blocking God’s blessing in your life? Is it your children, friendships, reputation, power, possessions, comfort, habits? Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was the supreme act of faith. ‘By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac.’ How could he do it? ‘Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life.’ (Hebrews 11:19 NLT) Abraham believed that, with God, letting go never means losing but getting back something better. And you will too!
SoulFood: 2 Kings 13–15, Matt 19:1–14, Ps 73:17–28, Pro 13:20
Renungan Hari Ini [The Word for Today] is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©