Supreme Sacrifice

Genesis 22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

It's a pivotal moment for Abraham, Isaac, and God. The old patriarch is willing to sacrifice his innocent son simply because God asked him to do it. There's no questioning about what God wants. There's no discussion, negotiation, or compromise. Even when Abraham is looking into his son Isaac's fearful eyes, there is no going back or denying God what He wants. God has commanded and Abraham blindly follows what God has ordered.

Is it a test of faith for Abraham, or for God? Like his forefather Adam, Abraham has the free will to obey or disobey God. He could turn his back on what God wants and decide not to worship such a cruel deity, or he can do what he does, which is to tie his son to a pile of wood and then seek to slaughter him.

But what about God? When He sees Abraham's absolute loyalty, does it make God change His mind? After all, God could decide that what He wants is what He gets, but something happens here that makes God intervene. Does He want to save Isaac, or is there something deeper going on?

Because Abraham doesn't hesitate to follow through God's command, God realizes that He must also do the same thing with His Son, Jesus. Abraham has shown God that humankind can give up everything for Him. The question now is this: is God willing to give up everything for humanity? If not, then Abraham has more faith than God!

After this event, we are no longer asked to sacrifice our children for our faith. There is no more need to be tested like this. There is no more reason to go through such horrific rituals in order to appease an angry God. God Himself has committed this sacrifice by sending Jesus into the world to be slaughtered for humankind. There is no greater sacrifice in the universe than that of the death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary, for that's where the Holy and Only True Son of God dies for all of our sins. Nothing else can ever top that. No other sacrifice comes close.

Prayer: Father God, faith is not an easy journey and sometimes the sacrifices that we make are hard to endure. Through Abraham's obedience, we are blessed, but through Christ's sacrifice, we are saved. Thank You for giving Your Son as the Perfect & Supreme Sacrifice for all of our sins. That is why we call Him Savior; that is why we serve Him as Lord.. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.