Genesis 22 - How Much Does God Own?

Abraham's faith was strongly tested when God asked that he sacrifice Isaac. His only remaining son and the son God promised would be his legacy. Abraham would in the flesh have doubted this command and reasoned that God wouldn't ask him to sacrifice his own son.

This was not a small sacrifice. This was relinquishment of everything he held dear. Yet his faith in God was so great that he believed God would even raise his son from the dead if he were sacrificed. His faith was absolute in the promises of God. His unwavering obedience even in the face of the death of his son gives us pause for reflection.

We also get a beautiful picture of Messiah here. Jesus, God's only son was sacrificed for our sin. Sin has such a high price that it deserves death. Jesus was sinless, but God heaped upon him your sin, my sin, and the sins of thousands of others who may not even accept Him as Lord, but He made provision for us to enjoy fellowship restore with the Father. Jesus gave his all.

Abraham did not withhold anything from God. He willingly obeyed even when the sacrifice was dear. In America we know little if what sacrifice means. We have been affluent for many years and it seems to have kept us from placing our full trust in God because to some degree we attribute our wealth to our hard work and not to God's provision. True faith allows God access to any relationship and any asset for His purposes.

If we are laying up for ourselves treasure here or keeping it in a way that God cannot use it for His glory we are only giving him a partial Lordship of our lives. Our stewardship may demand a sacrifice; will God find us willing to yield to him even the dearest?

God may never ask you to sacrifice your children, but he may ask you to forfeit some of the security wealth has falsely provided you or he may ask you to swallow your pride and make yourself vulnerable in a relationship so that His love might flow through you to witness to a hardened heart.

Dear friends, no matter what God requires, His provision is more than sufficient. Can we show the same faith and trust that Abraham displayed? We serve the same God and He is still mighty and powerful in every circumstance we face.

Dear Heavenly Father, we stand amazed at the faith of Abraham, but we recognize that he walked closely with you and developed an intimate trust in your character. As we go about our day today, help us to walk closely with you so that we can grow in the knowledge of who you are and respond in quick obedience. All that we have comes from your hand. Help us to hold all things loosely for your use at your discretion. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.