I was reading the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis this morning and was struck by a particular passage in Chapter 22. Mind you that Abraham has waited his entire life to have a son. God has made him promises that he would have a son and that through this son, Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and they would become God's chosen people. Finally at the age of 100 God's promise is fulfilled and Abraham has a son and names him Isaac. I can only imagine the love and attachment that Abraham has for this son of his.

But now as the story unfolds, God comes to Abraham again and says to him, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love - Isaac - and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."

Can you imagine the horror for Abraham? Not only is this the son he has waited for 100 years for, but God has made Abraham all sorts of promises concerning this son of his. But seemingly without hesitation Abraham goes. He takes his son to the place God shows him, ties him to the altar and raises his knife to slay his beloved son and finally God intervenes and stops him. His words to Abraham are these, "Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."


What strikes me about this story is that God wants our pure, unadulterated love and devotion. He wants to be first place in our lives, above all else. For Abraham, God wanted to ensure that even what he had promised him and blessed him with, hadn't become an idol that Abraham treasured above God.


All of us have things that we love and cherish in life... be it relationships, money, possessions, jobs, status, etc. But the important thing for us to remember is not that those things are bad, but that God wants to be first in our life above all those things. For us to value anything above God is idolatry... we are worshipping something else above God.


So what are the things you value and cherish? Would you be able to stand up to the test of God and surrender those things if he so asked? Is there something he is perhaps asking you to lay on the altar and sacrifice in your life? What changes do you need to make in your life to solidify your devotion to God above all else?

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