The Altar

Genesis 22:^1-2 “Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go… and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

For Abraham to take that first step out of his father’s house, it was a sacrifice. For him to go in the direction that God was leading him was a sacrifice. To do all that he did to stay faithful to God and not look for another god was a sacrifice. Guess what? The God that Abraham was dealing with is the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth. And God promised to give Abraham a son. Year one, year two, year three. year four. year five, year ten, year fifteen, year twenty, and on and on. Yet he stayed faithful; it was sacrificial. You need to Sacrifice Accordingly. And guess what? God made good that promise, and Isaac came.

They must have thrown a party, rejoiced, invited neighbours, and if it were in our day, they must have several reels on the baby’s arrival. Unending status updates must have gone on; everywhere must have been buzzing. Then God came and said to Abraham, “Give me your son, your only son, the one that you love, Isaac.” Excuse me, Sir? “Give me your son, your only son, Isaac.” Abraham could have said, “What will I say? What will I tell my neighbours… people? What will all my social media followers say?” Let’s even bring it home, how will he tell Mama Sarah? I don’t imagine that Abraham mentioned it to Sarah.

Think about it. Abraham goes to Sarah and says, “This our only son, the one we waited twenty-five years for, God says I should sacrifice him.” Sarah would lock Abraham up and insist that he should sacrifice her first to his “bloodthirsty” God, before he touches her son. It would have been war. Let’s now bring it home to Abraham himself: how did he feel? However, if you check the scriptures, there is nowhere that it was recorded that Abraham had a banter with God, or bargained, argued, reasoned, or tried to talk God out of it. Abraham said to God, “You want him? I will give him. Isaac, let’s go!”

Everyone who walks with God leaves a “blood trail”, if you will, of sacrifices. Remember when David eventually wanted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem? After every six paces, he would offer sacrifices—even though that was an exaggerated way. But he knew that God is a God of sacrifices. If you are serving God and it is out of your convenience, you need to check who you are serving. You may just be serving yourself and not God. God always requires sacrifice. What about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary? That is what makes every other sacrifice acceptable. But everyone who walks with God knows that it is a walk of sacrifices.

Prayer: Father, may my sacrifices always be pleasing to You, in Jesus Name. Amen!