““Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”” Genesis 22:5 NLT
The most impossible request; and Abraham seemed so calm. In fact, he described it as worship.
Wow!
That was a tough one. He was the only person who knew the fullness of God’s plans. The instructions were clear. Take Isaac, the beloved son, and offer him to Me (God), as a sacrifice. What must have been on Abraham’s mind? Did he wonder if he was experiencing payback from God for his treatment of Hagar and Ishmael? Or, was he just confident that God would raise Isaac from the dead? Was he no longer tied up with inheritance and legacies anyone? Had he figured out how he was going to tell Sarah?!
What we do know is that Abraham determined to make that final alone, him and his sacrifice. And we hear him stating that he was going to worship!
Yes; worship.
That suggests that when we worship God, we give of our very best, most beloved treasure to God. Sometimes (rather, for some of us), it is money. And we give that too. But there are often more cherished treasures than money.
(How much do we cherish those in our lives? We never knew when they may be gone)
When we offer our gifts to God – and we ought to be prayerfully considering what it could be in a time such as this- we must have a) the right gift and b) the right attitude. The right gift for the season (talent, time, or treasure) affirms that we are hearing and responding. The right attitude is always praise. For we know – deep within – that, based on personal end even Abraham’s experience, God’s blessings far outweigh what we think we’re sacrificing.
Every single time.
We praise God for the opportunity to give, especially in these times, for the fact that we have something To give and for our own transformation in the giving. Yes, in giving to God, we activate our own transformation. Now that is most definitely praiseworthy!
And sometimes, the sacrifice is in the praise.
Yes.
Praise
Praise that casts out all fear, misery and ingratitude. Praise that anticipates the improbable. Praise for God’s doing the impossible. Praise for the God Who supplies our needs On Time, every time. Praise to confuse the enemy.
