ESOCS Devotional 19 December 2021
TEXT: GENESIS 22:1-19
MEMORY VERSE:
“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” (Genesis 22:2 KJV).
Sacrifice is a word used almost every day. We make budgetary sacrifices; salary sacrifices; we sacrifice luxuries for our children’s education. We gain pleasure in making a sacrifice that delivers personal benefits, and there is honour in making a significant sacrifice on behalf of others. But we have a profound sense of awe when people make the ultimate sacrifice, forfeiting their life for the well- being of others, as often happens tragically in war.
For Abraham, it involved even more. God placed Abraham’s faith on the line, testing his obedience by commanding him to perform the abhorrent and horrific act of sacrificing his own son. No other story in the Old Testament can match the sacrifice of Isaac for its haunting beauty or its theological depth. It’s a story that has inspired reflection and worship through the centuries, and continues to do so today.
What is perhaps more amazing than God’s unexpected and outrageous command is Abraham’s response! He resolutely obeys God to the letter, despite his obvious personal dread, and the social repercussions when his family and friends discover what he’s done; and despite what the loss of Isaac will mean to the family’s destiny. Abraham had two sons, both of whom he loved, but God had made a series of covenant promises to Abraham, and he knew the promises would be delivered through Isaac. He was fully aware of the supreme price God was asking him to pay.
And He paints for us, on the broad canvas of salvation history, the awesome vista of God the Father giving His one and only Son to save a lost world, and a powerful image of the substitutionary death of Christ for each of us. You and I were in Isaac’s terrible predicament, with no hope of release or victory, until God sent Jesus to take our place, to suffer for our sins, and to die on our behalf
- What are the things you are doing that will hinder you from making the ultimate sacrifice for your salvation and how do you intend to overcome them?
- Lord, help me to be willing to sacrifice all for you, in Jesus’ name.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: John 1:29-36, Galatians 3:13–14
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ESOCS Devotional 19 December 2021
