August 21, 2019

HOW FAR?

Genesis 22:10-12

Then Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham! Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” He then replied, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him, for now I know you fear God, since for My sake you have not spared your beloved son.”

Personal Challenge

The story of Abraham and Isaac ends up at this pinnacle of God testing His faithful servant to see how far he will go for His God. His entire life, Abraham was promised by God to have enough offspring to fill the earth. And yet, he and Sarah did not have their son Isaac until they were in their early 100's. Finally, an answered prayer. But then several years later, probably when Isaac was in his preteen years, God tells Abraham to go into the hills and offer his son as a sacrifice to God. Can you imagine the thoughts going through his head? And he does it, all the way to the point where Isaac is tied up, laying on the kindling for the fire, and hand-raised ready to plunge the knife into his son. But God interferes. Was this a test to satisfy God? Or was it a test for Abraham to find out just how far he would go far the love of his God? I believe it was the latter for God already knew how far Abraham would go, He just needed to help Abraham discover that. Isn't that what our tests, trials, and tribulations in life are all about, opportunities for us to discover within ourselves just how far we are willing to go for our God? Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!