Scripture
Genesis 22:2-3
2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Observation
God gave Abraham a command: “Sacrifice your son–the son which I had promised to you–on an altar!” Abraham was willing to fulfill this command, and began to do just that. Just before taking his son’s life, God stopped him and told him that it was merely a test of his obedience and allegiance to God.
Never again in scripture do we find God commanding someone to sacrifice another person to God. In fact, many years later in Deuteronomy 18:10, God very specifically forbids human sacrifice for all time. This test of Abraham was not only a test of his obedience–it was also a test of his knowledge of God’s word. Since no law had been given by God to prevent human sacrifice at that time, the command was valid. Today, such a command could definitely NOT be from God, because it would now violate His written word.
Application
This is a difficult passage in many ways. Why would God command such an unthinkable action from Abraham? Why would Abraham willingly go along with such a thing? Why didn’t Isaac protest or resist? And last but not least…how am I supposed to apply such an extreme story to my own life?
Perhaps the greatest takeaway is the importance of knowing God’s word. Because of God’s word, I can be certain when things line up with what He has established- and I can know for certain that the things which don’t align with His word, are not from Him!
There are many who make decisions based on what makes sense to them, and on their preferences. If I like it, or if it makes strategic sense, then it must be the right decision! The question of whether it aligns with God’s word become a distant after-thought. This mindset lulls me into false peace, while allowing sin to continue un-challenged in my heart.
I must know the word of God: What it allows, what it forbids, what it encourages, and what it prioritizes. God’s word is trustworthy. What God has said is established. He’s not struggling to make up His mind, and he doesn’t leave right and wrong up to my own preferences and personal interpretation.
Today I choose to invest time in learning and knowing God’s word. I want to be obedient to the word of God even when it’s difficult, not obedient to every other voice around me.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder of the importance of knowing your word! Give me a heart to know you! I want to live a life based on your word and your principles, not merely on my own preferences and limited understanding.
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