FAITH CAPSULE: Abraham loved God with all his all.
Genesis 22
Loving God is not valentine celebration. Loving God is worshiping God, loving God should be a non-stop engagement when there is breath within us. Loving God should not be how we please to love Him but how He expects us to love Him. God does have a set standard for every area of His expectation for us. Standard to love God and get His attention is stated in Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” To love God means to give Him all just as Abraham gave God all is all, loving God. He loved God with all his heart, with all his soul, with his strength.
Abraham loved God with all his all. Abraham was seventy-five years old when he left home because he chose to love and serve God by fulfilling God’s call for his life. Abraham demonstrated his love when he moved in obedience to an unknown location. Through the journey of Abraham’s life, his love for God was constantly evident. However, the strongest demonstration of his love for God emerged after the birth of his son Isaac. God said to Abraham, “…take now 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.” (Genesis 22:2) God’s repeated emphasis on Isaac’s status to Abraham before mentioning Isaac for sacrifice was not enough for Abraham to deny God. Abraham demonstrated what it means to love God with all our heart when he followed through and obeyed the instructions of God. Abraham resumed the journey of obedience at the early hour.
“Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.” (Genesis 22:4) It took Abraham three days to get to the ground of sacrifice. Abraham’s taking his one and only son that he loved, on a three days journey must have been exhausting. Also, knowing fully well that the son was to die should have taken away all his strength as he went on for three days. Despite all, he continued because he loved God with all his strength.
Abraham also demonstrated his love with all his soul when he carried out the sacrifice in his heart. “Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” (Genesis 22:10) Abraham’s attempt called for heaven’s attention and the angel called on Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”(Genesis 22:12) By not withholding and being so willing to sacrifice his one and only son, Abraham clearly demonstrated how much he loved God with all his heart, strength and soul.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to love God with all your all for His glory.