"Early in the Morning" January 14 Readings: Genesis 22-25

Today's Reading - Genesis 22-25

Background

The most significant story in today's reading and one of the greatest in the entire Bible is Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac out of obedience to God. God provides a ram to die in place of his son - a symbol we can hardly miss. The death of Sarah and Abraham's choice of a wife (Rebekah) for Isaac follow, along with some genealogical information.

Devotional - Early in the Morning

I believe the Bible is true from cover to cover, but there are a few places where I have more trouble with that than others. No, it's not the miracles - if God can create the world he can control it. But when Moses has to tell the people to stop giving because they have too much, that is something I have never experienced. And at the beginning of today's reading there is a statement that boggles my mind because it is so different from how I would have behaved.

Abraham and Sarah had been childless all their lives. They'd tried a fleshly alternative to the promise of God when Sarah gave her handmaiden to Abraham and Ishmael was conceived. Finally, when Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 89, God did a miracle and she became pregnant - it was so absurd she laughed about it and they called the child "Laughter" - Isaac. He was truly the light of their eyes and the joy of their lives.

But our God is a jealous God and he is never satisfied to take second place. Even our families cannot take a priority higher than God in our lives or it becomes an issue. So, some time later, God came to Abraham with a test.

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:2

God leaves no question about the test. "...your only son, whom you love." God was testing him to see whether he loved God more than his son. 

That is when the amazing, hard-to-believe thing happens. Genesis 22:3 records Abraham's reaction. 

So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.

Let's be honest. What would you have done if God spoke to you and told you to do such a hard and distasteful thing? I would have "prayed about it" for a long time. I probably would have sought counsel and the advice of others would have been clear - that is just crazy, Dave. 

But Abraham knew what God was telling him and he did it. Complete and immediate obedience. He got up the next morning and he headed out to the place God sent him. We know the rest of the story. He raised his hand to deliver the death blow and God stopped him, providing a sacrifice in Isaac's place. Abraham honored God and God honored Abraham. The place of that sacrifice became the site that the Temple of Israel was eventually built. 

We must put God first at all times and obey him radically, immediately, and completely. When we waffle, hem and haw, and delay obedience, we offend a loving, but jealous God. God has blessings in store for Abraham. He revealed himself and he provided for Abraham. But the key to Abraham's experience of these blessings was his immediate obedience. 

Father, may I be obedient to you as Abraham was - immediately, radically, and completely. 

Think and Pray

How would you describe your obedience to God and his word? Are you immediate, complete and radical in obedience or do you waffle and delay? Do you simply disobey?