Sacrifice

1/8/2020
Genesis 22:9


Merriam Webster's defines sacrifice as: 
 1. an act of offering to a deity something precious   
 2. destruction or  surrender of something for the sake of                           something (someone ) else
 3. to suffer a loss, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy for an ideal
    or belief                                                                                                                         
Sacrifice is uncomfortable. Whether you are sacrificing something big like: willingly becoming a soldier during a time of war, donating a kidney to a person in need, sharing your home with someone who has no place of their own; or something small like: skipping your favorite team's championship game to help a friend, writing a check for your child's tuition, not eating your favorite foods while on a diet, or giving your seat up to someone on a crowded commuter train. Sacrifice always carries with it some level of pain.

In Genesis 22, Abraham is asked to do what is, to me, the unthinkable: sacrifice the most precious thing to him, his son Isaac. In this account, we do not read about Abraham's torment regarding this decision or about him questioning what is being asked of him by God. We see a demonstration of complete faithfulness. Abraham is prepared to give something more precious than his own life, because God asked him to do so.

 v.11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. v.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."

Because of his faithfulness, God blesses Abraham.

v. 17 I will surly bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

God asks us for a sacrifice as well. He asks us to sacrifice our connection to, and love of worldly pursuits for Him. He asks us to accept Jesus, His one and only Son who became the ultimate sacrifice for all, as The Atonement for our sin. He asks us to accept this gift freely.

When we enter into a relationship with God where we surrender our will to Him, we can become a living sacrifice for His Kingdom. As our relationship with Him deepens, the things the world may view as a sacrifice for this relationship become distant reflections in the rear view mirror as we travel closer to God, His grace, and His purpose for our lives.