What Are You Holding On To?

In Genesis 22, God tested Abraham with the undesirable task of sacrificing his son, Isaac. From the very beginning, it was God who promised Abraham that a son would come from his own seed and the womb of Sarah. It took several years and many mistakes before the promise was manifested. No matter how long it took, God still delivered on His promise. But after things were going well....after Sarah and Abraham celebrated their one and only son's birthday...after friends praised Sarah and Abraham for being able to have a son in their old age...guess what God asked Abraham to do? "Take your son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering ..." (Gen.22:2). Hmmmmm. Wow! Can you imagine how Abraham felt when he heard God say, "take your son and sacrifice him."

What I loved about Abraham in this passage is no matter how hard the request was from God, Abraham "rose up early the next morning, saddled the donkey, took two of his servants, AND Isaac, and they started on the journey to Moriah." When they arrived, Abraham told the servants, "Ya'll stay right here, WE will be back." When Abraham arrived at the spot, he laid his son, Isaac, down on the alter, raised up the knife preparing to sacrifice his son. Then all of a sudden, the Angel of the Lord, called out; "Abraham, Abraham, do not lay your hand on the lad for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son from Me." And when Abraham looked up, God provided a "ram in the bush."

What is God asking you to lay down on the alter? Is it your pain from a broken relationship? Is it your unforgiveness? Is it your status in society or on your job? Is it your money? Is it your children or grandchildren? What is it my sister? Only you and God know. Whatever it is, lay it down and let it go. Isaac was Abraham's sacrifice to God. Abraham trusted God enough to know that if God delivered on His promise before, then God would do it again! But Abraham had to be willing to lay Isaac on the alter.

Jim Elliot was very instrumental in the Great Awakening movement back in the 18th and 20th Century. Jim was determined that God called him to share the Gospel in Ecuador.

Unfortunately, he and his co-laborers were later killed by the very people they shared the Gospel with. In one of his biographies, Jim wrote this astounding quote; "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Ask yourself today, "What Am I holding on to?" Then, make the decision to give it to God.

Written by Sandra Kelley

July 27, 2023