But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
The above verses are from the section describing Abraham taking his son Issac up to a mountain to sacrifice him. God had told him to do so:
Genesis 22:1-2 (ESV)
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Abraham knew that Issac was a promised child to him from God. Therefore Abraham had no apprehension to sacrifice Issac. This is were “reason” comes into our faith. Abraham’s mindset was, “If God promised that through Issac I would have a nation and God is telling me to sacrifice Issac, than God must be going to do a miracle by raising Issac up from the dead if I do sacrifice him.” Here is the evidence of that faith-reasoning:
Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Abraham’s faith was based upon a promise. So Abraham went through the sacrifice and God stopped him from actually killing Issac. God now knew that Issac did not mean more to Abraham than his obeying God and loving God. This is always a test for parents. Do we believe and obey God and His promises more than we worship our children? Notice how Jesus addressed this:
Matthew 10:37 (ESV)
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Luke said it this way:
Luke 14:26 (ESV)
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
We are to have such love for Jesus that, in comparison, it looks like hate for our family. Jesus is not telling us to have animosity toward our family in order to love Him. He is telling us that our love for Him is so great that the love of our family looks like hate.
Jesus tested Peter, as well, by asking if Peter loved fishing (his occupation) more than loving Jesus?
John 21:15 (ESV)
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
God wants us to trust His promises and put nothing between Him and us. Everything else, by comparison should be hatred.
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