Reading today in Genesis 22 where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
It seems such a strange command. After all, God was about to judge the surrounding nations that performed child sacrifice.
But we know how it turned out. Abraham proved his obedience.
And God provided a substitute, a ram for the sacrifice.
The Lord said, “Abraham! Abraham! Do not lay a hand on the boy. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withhold from me your son, your only son.”
The next time the Lord spoke He said: “I swear by Myself that because you have not withheld your only son, that I will bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky…”
A powerful test.
Followed by a powerful blessing.
What would it look like in my life, or your life, if we passed a similar test?
How would the Lord bless us?
I believe He is waiting for us to show ourselves completely obedient.
My test of obedience might look different from yours.
But God’s blessing always follows our faith.
Am I stubbornly or fearfully holding on for dear life to something that I should relinquish to God?
A cherished habit? A long-held ambition? A way of life that is not holy? A fearful refusal to respond obediently to God’s call to step onto an untested path?
Remember, the Lord loves to prove Himself faithful.
Our obedience and faith identifies us as Christ’s brothers and sisters.
The test for each of us is death.
Not necessarily physical death. But dying to anything that is not God’s direction.
Jesus said that we must do this daily. (Luke 9:23)
Wow! A tall order.
But this is the daily act of a child of the Kingdom.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NIV Bible)