Today, I would like to read you a passage from Genesis 22:8-9. It is the story of Abraham and Isaac. God asked Abraham to give Him the one thing Abraham loved most.
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
The character in the story that has always amazed me most. Is not Abraham but Isaac? Why Isaac? Easy he is the one who has to climb up on the altar.
Isaac was at least 17 years old. His father, Abraham, was 117. Let that sink in for a moment. There is no way a 117 year old man was going to get a 17 year old boy up on the altar unless Isaac willingly got up on the altar and allowed it.
This story reminds me of the chicken and the pig who were walking down the street one morning and there was a sign outside of the restaurant that said, “No, eggs and no bacon today. We are all out.” The chicken looked at the pig and said, “Let’s help them out.” And the pig looked at the chicken and said, “No way, all you have to give is a few eggs, but I have to give my life.”
Isaac was willing to sacrifice His life because He loved his father. Most of the time we think about how much love Abraham had for his son but do you realize how much love Isaac had for his father.
Sacrifice is never easy. But remember Jesus was the ultimate Isaac for He gave His life for us. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.
➢ Maybe take time today to think, what sacrifice means to you? What might God ask you to sacrifice for the kingdom?
Now let me flip the coin, there are many in our community and in our nation, who are making many sacrifices in the face of this virus from Medical teams, small business owners, employees, first responders, and many more.
How about we pray for those who are fighting this virus and those who have had to give up for the safety of others.
Blessings,
Pastor Lee & Gidget Athey