One Who Withholds Nothing
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! Even though Isaac was Abraham’s promise from God, he was unwilling to withhold him from God.
When Isaac was still a young man, God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his only son on the mountain he would show him. After Abraham received those instructions, he arose early the very next morning, took Isaac with a few servants, and 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
The following profound conversation occurred as Abraham and Isaac were nearing the top of the mountain.
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–challenging 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 that cuts to the chase when it comes to the motivations of the heart.
4. The fierce love of God!
When Abraham proved that he was willing to follow through with the sacrifice of his promise from God, his only 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.” Gen 22:12
There was no one in all of the world that loved Abraham and Isaac more than God himself! No one on the face of the earth 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 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! You can fully rely on God’s love for you! It is of utmost importance to ask yourself this question; is there anything I hold more dear than my relationship with the Lord? Why? Because God will always test the true love of one’s heart if he is going to use them greatly! Therefore, you can be sure that the promises he has given you will be tested!
My dearest friend, 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 Withholds Nothing