The Offering



I read today in Genesis 22 the offering of Isaac account. I’ve read this passage many times over the years but God showed me something rather awesome. Allow me to point some things out regarding this event in the lives of Abraham and Isaac.

1. Abraham never debated with God when God asked him to offer up his son (Gen. 22:2-3). If Abraham did question the command, we are not shown this discussion.
2. Abraham believed that God would either step in before he killed his son (Gen. 22:7-8) or restore his son to life. Abraham knew that God keeps His word, and they had an agreement (covenant) that his son would carry on his name.
3. Isaac did not fight his father (Gen. 22:9). Abraham was over 100 years old and Isaac was a young man. Isaac could have fought his father but the passage leads us to believe he willing allowed his father to tie him up. Isaac was willing to be a sacrifice; after all, he grew up listening to the stories of the greatness of God from his father. He may have thought, “If God wants my life, there must be a good reason for it so I’ll lay it down.”
4. God did step in and stopped Abraham from doing what He commanded him to do (Gen. 22:11-12). Since God is all knowing (omniscience), He knew how Abraham would react. Even if he did killed Isaac God could have restore him with little effort (He is God after all).
5. God provided an animal for Abraham and Isaac to offer as a sacrifice instead (Gen. 22: 13).

God was testing Abraham to see just how much he loved Him. God wanted to see if Abraham loved his son more than he loved his God. In Isaac, Abraham had the fulfilled promise God made to him. Children were everything in this culture. Isaac represented the Abraham’s name living on past his death. Isaac was his hopes and dreams. Abraham was willing to give up his hopes, dreams, and his legacy because God told him to. That’s what God’s test for Abraham was. Did his hopes and dreams have more priority or his faithfulness to God?

That comes home for me and I’m thinking for you, too. What or who is Isaac to us? Or better asked what are your hopes and dreams or who is most dear to you? Do they have a higher priority in your life than your faithfulness to your heavenly Father? As God gave Isaac to Abraham, He gave you everything; job, money, home, spouse, children, everything. Be willing to give them up if He asks you to, because He the God of your life; not the hopes, dreams, or children. It’s something to think about.