We hold tightly to things, don’t we? We often cling to people, dreams, and things more than we cling to God.  That is why so many of us struggle with a passage like this one.

Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love…offer him there as a burnt offering… Genesis 22:2 HCSB

The sacrifice of Isaac. Everything God had promised to Abraham was fulfilled in Isaac.  He was the son of the promise.  Yet, God instructs Abraham to offer him as a burnt offering. Sacrifice what you hold most dear, Abraham.

So, Abraham packs up his things and heads out to do exactly as the Lord instructed.  

Listen, however, to the conversation Abraham has with the men traveling with him.

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship… – Genesis 22:5

When they get to the place where God had told them to go, Abraham tells the young men traveling with him to wait behind because he and Isaac are going over there to worship.

God says, Sacrifice your son.

Abraham says, I’m going over there to worship.

As painful as it may seem, sacrificing the very thing that we hold dear is an act of worship. Handing over to God whatever it is we are clinging to and saying, God, I trust you with this… It is a sacrifice and, also, the sincerest form of worship.

Photo by Chaiwat