Today’s Reading, Genesis 22-24
Focal Scripture: Genesis 22:6 “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.”
When you head out on a journey you have to be prepared. My wife is a person who not only believes this but puts it into action no matter what type of trip or journey we embark on in our lives. When we go on a short trip we take enough clothes and personal items to last a few weeks. You name it, we probably have it packed or in the back seat. Why? She believes in overpacking because you never know what might happen on the journey. She does not waiver or budge because she has proven to be right almost every trip.
In today’s reading Abraham has been asked to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him to the Lord. As he prepares for the journey he took the wood, the fire, and the knife. He had everything he needed to be obedient. When his son asked where the sacrifice was to be offered Abraham said “The Lord himself will provide the sacrifice.” This matters because Abraham was confident that his son would not be sacrificed. He believed that the Lord would not break the promise about making him the father of many nations. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son. He was prepared to do anything he was asked.
What about you? Are you prepared to make the sacrifices the Lord has asked you to make? I know it can seem scary but we must learn that obedience matters more than what makes sense to us in our lives. Abraham was completely obedient to the request God made of him, just as we should be obedient when he asks us to give up what is important.
God is not going to ask us to sacrifice our children to show our obedience. However, he will ask us to give up things that are important to us as individuals. Your sacrifice could be giving up money for a ministry to help others. Maybe your sacrifice is giving up something you want to do so you can go where God has commanded you to travel. Our attitudes must always be prepared follow through on any sacrifice the Lord asks of us and individuals and families.
Our hearts must be prepared for radical obedience. We are only able to do that when we worship God with our whole heart. Just as my wife overpacks for journeys, we must also over prepare for any calling the Lord places before us in our lives.
Prepare yourself for sacrifice and watch what the Lord will provide.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Genesis 25-26
