Genesis 22 After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham!” “Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.” ² He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.

Reading the Bible this morning I was able to see again how unusual it was when God spoke to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering to God. I don’t know what would you feel being in Abraham’s shoes but thinking about myself self I’m not sure I would pass this test. We know now it was a test but I think Abraham in his time did not consider this as a test, it was real, he knew God wouldn’t joke, he took it seriously.

See verse 12; “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.” The Message (MSG) 

When the Angel of God appears to him saying; Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; Abraham was ready to slay his son and offer him to God as a burnt offering. I think all heaven was watching Abraham if he really will do it or his nerve system will give up before this point.

Sounds interesting, isn’t it (fearlessly fear God) nothing couldn’t stop him to obey God, that’s why God calls Abraham his friend, that’s why He said I’m going to bless not only you but all your descendants as well;

see verses ^15-18 The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed me.” 

I don’t know if there is something more important as obedience to God, I think He appreciates obedience much more than anything else that we can offer Him. I believe Abraham could offer God many things but not his son which he got when he was 100 years old. It’s easy to give some usual things but what about things we love the most? can we go over our selves fearlessly and offer God things we tight to, things which are so important to us? things we love the most? things we can’t imagine to live without?

I do not know how Abraham was imagining his life without Isaac after that, how he was going to return to his wife and tell her, I offered Isaac as a burnt sacrifice to God, what? she wouldn’t even believe him he did it, it’s just ridiculous, why would God want to take away their promised son who was supposed to become their inheritor? there would be no logical reason for this, no explanation.

Interesting thing is that not everything what God tells us to do, always seems reasonable to us, some times it is ridiculous, and we do not understand why we have to do this, but if we trust Him 100% we may be confident, if he tells us to do this, there is a reason, even if we do not understand this yet.

Do you have in your life something God is asking you to bring as a sacrifice to Him? It may be something you love or appreciate very much! and He is asking you to give it to Him but you don’t want, you can not even imagine your life without that. It may be something you tight to, it may be things or even people and God wants you to be free and to be tight to Him only. Maybe He wants to bring you to a new level in Him but you don’t want to give up things or people who hold you back.

Maybe something in your life is only a test but you afraid to take it and you are not making any decision towards that. But as we see from Abraham’s story, God looks how to bless us and not to punish us, His thoughts about us, are only for our best so, trust Him, allow Him to bless you. Love Him, have an intimacy with God, you will hear His voice, receive His revelation. Follow Him and not only you will be blessed, but your children and grandchildren and so on and on, and on. Don’t you want that? I know you do, bring your sacrifice, your obedience to Him you will lose nothing, but gain a lot, God is waiting for you!

Vasyl I. Pechko