Genesis 20-23

So what's the hardest thing you've ever been asked to do? When I think about that question, almost nothing comes to mind. Typically, when I have been asked to do something it entailed an inconvenience of some sort on my part. Can you take your brother to school? Can you make this for me? Can you take out the trash?! I really remember few moments when I was asked to sacrifice a great price to fulfill someone's request. I think this is also somewhat expected. We tend to never ask people for great sacrifice. It is almost a cultural courtesy. We will seldom ask someone to do something that entails much work at all. Typically, I ask "favors." I rarely, if ever, call someone to sacrifice greatly on my behalf. Partly, I don't necessary feel that I have the right to ask for so much from anyone else.

But God does. He even has the right in Genesis 22 to call Abraham to sacrifice his son. Notice, there is no discussion mentioned between God and Abraham. This is a bit shocking to me, especially after Abraham has just argued for the perseverance of Sodom and Gomorrah. I wonder if Abraham was just in shock and simply acquiesced solemnly, or if he was thinking through God's promises and knew God would provide a sacrifice, or if truly realized God would have to bring Isaac back to life if Abraham indeed did take his life, look at Hebrews 11:17-19.

But I am certainly a little shocked by God's request. This was an act God despises. It is an action that separated Him from other false gods. Pagans offered their children to their gods in sacrifice, but the Jews were supposed to be different, right? Compare Ps 106:37, 2 Kings 16:3, 17:17-18.

So why does He do this? One day God would do just what He asks Abraham to do. God's unique Son would be born, the final Son of promise. That Son would give His life for all mankind, not just for one man. We can see this story unfold. In one sense, God walked with His Son to that cross, just as He asked Abraham to walk his son to that altar. Then God, through the agency of man, pierced His Son and left Him to die; Abraham with knife in hand ready to do the same. Yet Abraham doesn’t have the feel the pain of piercing his son as God would, because even from Genesis 22 God shows that it is only He that can provide a suitable sacrifice for atonement, the acceptable sacrificial lamb. In Genesis a provisional substitutionary sacrifice is provided, its head caught in the thorns (a biblical symbol for sin). And one day the final substitutionary sacrifice would be provided, the thorns placed upon His upon brow.

As the representative head of the family that would one day usher in His Son, God asks Abraham to walk the walk He Himself would one day have to walk. It was a test of obedience and trust. It was a moment when Abraham showed unbelievable faith and resolve. He walked with God no matter how great the inconvenience.

I don't know what God has called you to do, but I guarantee He has not asked you so bold a request as Abraham. So may we look to Abraham's total commitment as a witness for us, even in the day to day activities of our faith walk with God, so that one day when a painful sacrifice is asked of us we might answer in obedience in the shadow of our father of the faith, Abraham.