Sometimes our Lord asks us to sacrifice something that we
hold dear. And sometimes He asks us to sacrifice something that He has promised
us. This was what He asked Abraham to do.
Abraham could have argued with God, “But he is the son that
You promised me!”
But this isn’t what Abraham did. He didn’t argue with God.
He didn’t try to find a way out. Instead, we are told that he believed that God
could raise Isaac from the dead. And Abraham obeyed in faith. This wasn’t a
blind faith, because God had proved Himself over and over before this. And
Abraham’s trust was well placed.
Is there something in your life that He has asked you to
sacrifice to Him? Is it something that He has promised to you? Is it something
that you hold dear?
Will you trust Him?
Will I trust Him? I find myself in this situation right now.
“I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls
into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it
produces much grain” (John 12:24, NET). In context, Jesus was talking about His
own coming death.
I think that if the disciples had been asked if they would
willingly give up His physical presence at that time, they would have said no.
But this was necessary. And through His death, He brought many to life.
This is the potential of a seed. Symbolically, Isaac was the
seed of the promise to Abraham. In willingly releasing this seed into God’s
hands, the seed bore much fruit.
Are you holding onto a bunch of seeds? Maybe God will ask
you to sacrifice them. But the exchange is nearly one-sided, because you will
get back far more than you lose. And, as with Abraham, you may receive the
promise back. (See Gen. 22:12.)
Even if not, He is worth the price you have been asked to
pay.
