This verse made a big impact on me a while back, when I noticed Abraham saying “we will come back.” He was heading up the mountain to sacrifice his son Isaac as an offering to the Lord, yet he was confident that he would not return to his servants alone, because God had promised blessing through Isaac. God used this passage to reminded me that he was faithful, that I could trust him to resolve a situation in my life.
Two years later, as I continue to wait on God to resolve that original situation, He brought this same verse to mind. But this time a new word stood out: worship. Abraham told his servants that he would worship and then come back. Except what he was really heading out to do was sacrifice. He was heading out to kill his son. But that wasn’t his focus. He wasn’t his focus.
Sometimes I wonder if we can get so caught up in our sacrifice, in the pain, in the loss, in the emotion of it all, that we lose sight of the one we are sacrificing to.
Sacrifices are an act of worship – whether we are giving up time, money, pride, desire… anything. To give those things to the Lord and to obey him are ways to demonstrate and showcase that God is greater. And that’s exactly what Abraham did.
“Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” – Genesis 22:12
We are called to worship. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. To give ourselves fully to him, to withhold nothing. This is not a partial command.
This is a foundation. A life anthem. An allegiance.
And God has already gone first.
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all… – Romans 8:32
God gave up what was most important to himself to buy back the lost and broken people he created.
He gave up Jesus. God gave up his son, the only one who ever truly loved his father with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. The one who fulfilled all of the laws, the words of each prophet, the details of every breath of scripture. And when this Father walked up the mountain with his son, there was no alternate sacrifice waiting in a thicket. Jesus was it. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).
He is our object of worship. His life, his sacrifice, his abounding mercy and never-ending grace. His character, his beauty, his love. He is our focus. Nothing else is worthy.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:29-30
Read: Genesis 22:1-19
Romans 8:31-39
Consider: What has God called you to sacrifice? What catches you off-guard and distracts you from worship? Why?
Spend some time in Scripture and in prayer.
Sing: I love the lyrics to this song, “The things of earth stand next to Him like a candle to the sun” – Behold (Then Sings My Soul)
Soaking in the Son 