Thinking in 3’s - Genesis 22:2 - Offering and Receiving

The story of the testing of Abraham is a difficult one. It is difficult in that we can instantly feel the pain, the dilemma, of being asked to so something that is so clearly self-denying and son-forsaking in order to obey the call of God. Here are God’s words to Abraham: 

“Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:2 NAS95)

The words sound immoral, even criminal. And yet, and yet - Abraham has received the promises of God, recounted over and over in the previous chapters, and will be recounted in this chapter as well. Further, He has seen the provision of Good - miraculous provision. The birth of Isaac itself was a miraculous gift of God. Abraham and Sarah could never have conceived him on their own, in their old age. It was an act of God. Isaac was a gift of God. And even further, Isaac was the vehicle by whom all those promises of God - a family and a nation - would come. Without Isaac, there would be none of those things. 

But this story is not about logic. It is about Abraham’s heart, and your heart. It is about what you love more than anything else, and whom you will honor above anyone else. And so, the three-fold description of Isaac is telling: 1) Your son; 2) Your only son; 3) whom you love.

Father and mothers will protect their kids with their lives. They would instinctively sacrifice themselves for the sake of their children. They would never actually sacrifice their children. But that’s what God says.

It’s not like there were ten more kids in line behind Isaac. He was the only child born to Abraham and Sarah. Oh, I’m not suggesting the pain is any less in the losing of a child if there is a bunch rather than just one. But the “only” is heart-wrenching. 

Whom you love? Do you love your kids, your child? Of course. How much? As much as anything. More than God? Oh, that’s a hard one. And that was Abraham’s test. And he decided that He loved God more, for the good of his soul, and for the good of his son, his only son, whom he loved. It’s always best for our kids if they know we love God most. Abraham was compelled to demonstrate to Isaac that obedience to God is always the best way.

The point of the story is not just the faith of Abraham. It’s a huge point, but there is something more. The other point is this: God didn’t ask Abraham to do anything that He wouldn’t do Himself. And that’s exactly what God did. He took His Son, His only Son, whom He loved, and He offered Him as a sacrifice for our sins - because He loved us so much. And just as Abraham received back his son just before the sacrifice, God received back His Son just after the resurrection.

Please, Lord, please never subject me to such a test. But also, please let me grasp some measure of the depth of Your love for Your “other” children, that You would offer up You Son for us.