Isaac knew something was wrong.  This time something was different.  All the needed elements for the burnt offering were assembled; Abraham had the fire and the knife and Isaac himself carried the wood, but the sacrifice was missing.  (Genesis 22:6)

As Abraham and Isaac walked to the place God directed, Isaac questioned his father about the absent animal.  The Bible records a portion of that conversation as Abraham confidently replies that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” NIV Genesis 22:7   However, the Bible doesn’t tell us how Abraham explained God’s command; revealing to his one and only beloved son that he, Isaac, was the intended offering.

What went through Isaac’s mind when he realized the implication of God’s command to Abraham?  Did he inwardly rebel against this certain sentence of death, wanting to flee or fight for his life?  We don’t know how he initially responded but we do know how he reacted.  He submitted, laying his life down as a willing sacrifice in obedience to his father’s will.

We don’t know how old Isaac was at this time but we know he was old enough to carry all the wood for the burnt offering, which must have been a considerable amount.  It is not unreasonable to believe he was in his mid to late teens or early twenties, certainly old enough to resist and fight off his elderly father, who was well over 100.  But that is not what the Bible records.

(NIV) Genesis 22:9….  “When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.  He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.”

Isaac willingly allowed himself to be bound, obediently laid down on the wood of the altar, and humbly offered his life as a sacrifice.   Isaac displayed great faith as did his father, Abraham.  Abraham’s faith acted, Isaac’s faith submitted.  He submitted to his father’s will and performed the ultimate act of sacrificial obedience by laying himself on the altar.  Isaac died to self to honor and please the father he loved.

Our sacrifice of obedience to Father God should be no different.  We must be willing to face death, death to self, in order to please the God who loves us: death to our dreams and desires, to our wants and expectations, to our will and our way and even our very life.

(NIV) Romans 12:1…”Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”
(underlining and bold type added)

Hold nothing back; offer your life, ALL OF IT, to God.
Sacrifice yourself to Him.

~ Take it to Heart ~

Sacrifice yourself to honor your Father

(NIV) Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”