The story of Abraham taking his son Isaac to sacrifice him on Mount Moriah is a remarkable picture of God and his sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Wow! Isaac was Abraham’s only (genuine) son, his future, his covenant blessing and his most precious promise from God! After God had instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son, early the next morning he, Isaac and the servants resolutely set out towards the mountain of God. When Abraham saw the mountain in the distance, he instructed the servants saying, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 

As Abraham and Isaac were nearing the top of the mountain, the following profound conversation took place. 

Genesis 22:7-8 

Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. 

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 

 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.   

Wow! Abraham, in the middle of this crazy situation, was still operating in genuine faith! 

Genesis 22:9-12 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”  

What are your main takeaways from the story? For me it is the following: 

1. The astounding faith of Abraham 

2. The recognition of how sacrifice is so profoundly intertwined in worship  

3. The intense side of God to cut to the chase when it comes to the        

    motivations of the heart 

4. The intense love of God  

When Abraham was indeed willing to follow through with the killing of his son, God stopped him and said to him, “Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” There was no one in all the world that loved Abraham and Isaac more than God himself! There was no one on the face of the earth that loved Isaac more than Abraham! You can be sure of this: God wants to know whether he is the first in your heart or not! God will allow testing to come to determine whether you serve him for what he can give you or simply for who he is!  

Take courage in the fact that no one loves you more, and no one has your back more than God! Will you trust him? Is there anything you hold more dear than your relationship with the Lord? Your future is determined by God. Therefore, the promises that he has given you regarding your future will be tested! May you, like Abraham, completely trust the heart of God and the promises he has spoken to your heart! May you trust God’s love and his promise to you so completely that you, like Abraham, may be identified as one who is… 

WITHHOLDING NOTHING! 

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