~Thursday Thought~

When we read the story of Abraham and Sarai, we see the impeccable nature of God that shows nothing is too hard for Him. He took an old barren woman and blessed her with a child, Isaac, so that His promise to Abraham would be fulfilled (Genesis 17:4-5).

One day, God called out to Abraham to sacrifice his son. Not only did he call him to sacrifice his son, but God called him to sacrifice their miracle.

Genesis 22: 1-2 says, "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

If it were me, I would have a hard time thinking the Lord told me to do that. I would double check, triple check with God, making sure that I heard him correctly. As a parent, this is what happens when we dedicate our children. We are willingly giving them to God and trusting that His plan is greater than our pain. We see in the next verse that Abraham did not question the Lord. He actually says to the men that were with him in verse 5, " Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."

He knew that worship equalled sacrifice. In our worship is our faith. Abraham had faith that him and his son was going to return. He had faith that God would provide. He also had faith that even if God didn't provide there, He would provide in time just like He did before.

"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood."

What did God do? He provided.

Genesis 22:13

God placed a ram in the thicket for him to sacrifice.

God did not let Abraham sacrifice his son. God did not make us sacrifice our sons for debt of sin. God did not make us sacrifice ourselves for the debt of sin. He provided the blood that ran red and washed us whiter than snow. The blood that there was no spot upon it. The sacrifice that was tempted like us all, but had not gave in to that temptation. Abraham's son was not sacrificed, but the Son of God was sacrificed for you and me.

Just like He was Jehovah- Jireh for Abraham, He is Jehovah-Jireh for me, because he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So in that I sacrifice everything to Him because I know He will provide in every way. He has never left me nor forsaken me. I sacrifice me, my marriage, my child, my relationships, my ministry, because His ways are higher than my ways.

What can we sacrifice to God this week?

-Kharah Wells