Are you willing to give your "only son"? (Genesis 22)

I guess God works in strange ways, many times- or rather He works in ways that are unusual. I mean, why would He give Abraham a son (at 100 years old,and his wife, 90) and take away the son's life. Today we explore one of the most amazing story in the bible. Not to mentioned, the climax to my little study on Abraham, as I walk through the Bible.

Here you see one of the strangest command God could give to anyone- sacrifice one's only son (Genesis 22:2). If there's anything we know about God, is that He is absolutely good and perfect- morally superior- and He hates those other gods that men has created who have human sacrifices. The Bible even tells us that "...God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone." (James 1:13) But now, He is asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, whom was himself a God-given child of the barren Sarah. Extraordinarily absurd. Well, if you haven't read any commentary or heard sermon on this, you would even be angry. However, the beautiful and crucial part of this incident is not on the act of sacrificing, but the act of obedience. And I would even go as far as saying, this is not really a test from God, but a proof from God why Abraham deserves to be called "father of many nations" (and still is today).

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 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?"

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

9 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. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"

This kind of faith is really fantastic! "God will provide the lamb", Abraham knew very clear that he would have to sacrifice his son that moment, although somehow he knew that the Yahweh he knew was going to provide - that God will bring Isaac back to life or somehow turn this whole absurd situation around for Abraham's good! He remembered the promised made to him by this same God that through Isaac will his offspring be reckoned! Now, of course is just too easy to say that without proof and I have doubts about it in the past as well but not anymore. The bible says that this whole sacrificial thing ended with God himself providing the ram to be sacrificed and Abraham (and Isaac obviously) would thought (that was close). Yet with reverence, Abraham did not hold grudges for some kind of joke that God played on him but instead had a new revelation over his life and over the God he serves - from thence Yahweh was Jehovah Jireh - God the provider. Abraham was indeed God's most fanatic friend.

So what's the fuss of all this that it would be so important to Abraham, to God and all of us? The answer is found in the angel's second call from heaven:

16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."

If you are following through from the start of Abraham's first encounter with the LORD (from Gen 12), you will find this "declaration" rather familiar- God had promised Abraham these before (see Genesis 12:2 & 13:14-17). Was God therefore just making empty promises the first time round? I think not. I think God, the Alpha & Omega, who sees the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning knew what Abraham would do - and therefore would declare Abraham as blessed and made great promises to him even before this ultimate test of obedience. From the start, God had no doubt about Abraham's faith and obedience- Abraham would give up anything to please the Lord God.

So the lesson for us today is, would we give up our "only son" to obey the Lord God Almighty? That is of course figuratively speaking- what God wants us to do is to let go of the things we regard as most important in our lives - and follow Him. That is consistent throughout the Bible. These things are important and God knows that- but He assures you that if you fix your eyes upon Him and be faithful to Him, He will not disappoint us- He asks us for our "son" and gives us descendants, cities and blessings (verse 17 above). Commit everything to the Lord everything you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3). It is really difficult sometimes, but that is the only way to please God- the rewards however are bountiful.

And last but not least, Abraham sacrificed his son but God provided the ram to spare Isaac, but God sacrifice Jesus and Jesus was not spared. Ever so familiar but ever so important, For God so love the world, that he gave His ONLY SON... (John 3:16). What a great sacrifice- what a wonderful love story, what a stark contrast! It is reminded once again:

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

God gave His all to you, how would you respond with all that you are today?

God bless you.