Be Still and Know - "By Faith Abraham Offered Isaac As A Sacrifice"

(from www.premierchristianradio.com)

1. Hebrews 11.17 -18 NLT
   
   
   
   
   
   
   It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”
   
   
   This is a really tough passage. The idea of God apparently asking a parent to kill their child is tough enough, but it is infinitely more difficult when you consider that on this occasion he was asking Abraham to murder the son who was going to be the start of the great and mighty nation which he had promised. It’s all very perplexing. But we are invited to focus our attention on Abraham, the man of faith, because he was willing to do whatever God called him to do, knowing that it would all work out wonderfully. The writer observes that Abraham had worked out that if Isaac had actually been killed then God would have been able to raise him from the dead so that his plans could be fulfilled. That is to say, Abraham was absolutely convinced that God could be trusted and that however tough the road might be God’s will would be fulfilled.
   
   
   Having complete faith in God, and confident that obeying God was always the best step to take, Abraham was happy to make any sacrifice. Sacrifice lies at the heart of every loving relationship. When you truly love another person, you will gladly go to great lengths to please them. Even if it is costly and difficult, you will think nothing of making a sacrifice in order to help them. And so we shouldn’t be surprised that God looks to us to make sacrifices. To give up money, status, power and possessions in order to bless others. On the face of it, this might seem incredibly demanding and unattractive but, when it is seen as part of a loving relationship with a God who loves us so much that he made the ultimate sacrifice of his Son, it all makes sense.
   
   
   
   
   None of this is to say that sacrifices are pain-free and easy. The pain in Abraham’s heart when he prepared to offer Isaac must have been overwhelming. But as men and women of faith we can share his confidence in God, and know that any sacrifice we make is only a pale reflection of the sacrifice that he made for us when he sent Jesus into the world.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Question: What sacrifices have you made for God, and what sacrifices would you be willing to make in the future?
   
   
   Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice that you made in sending Jesus into the world. Amen