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Nothing Too Precious, February 19
Genesis 22:1-14
By faith Abraham when he was tried, offered up Isaac; and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ... accounting that
God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.
Hebrews 11:17-19
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God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful, and his life was to
stand as an example of faith to succeeding generations. But his faith had not
been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah
was his wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar. That he might reach the
highest standard, God subjected him to another test, the closest which man was
ever called to endure
The Lord spoke unto him, saying: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac,
whom thou lovest,” “and offer him ... for a burnt offering.” The heart of the old
man stood still with horror. The loss of such a son by disease would have been
most heartrending to the fond father, it would have bowed his whitened head
with sorrow; but now he is commanded to shed the precious blood of that son
with his own hand. It seemed to him a fearful impossibility. Yet God had spoken,
and His word must be obeyed. Abraham was stricken in years, but this did not
excuse him from duty. He grasped the staff of faith and in dumb agony took by
the hand his child, beautiful in the rosy health of youth, and went out to obey
the word of God....
Abraham did not stop to question how God’s promises could be fulfilled if
Isaac were slain. He did not stay to reason with his aching heart, but carried
out the divine command to the very letter, till, just as the knife was about to be
plunged into the quivering flesh of the child, the word came: “Lay not thine
hand upon the lad;” “for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not
withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
This act of faith in Abraham is recorded for our benefit. It teaches the great
lesson of confidence in the requirements of God, however close and cutting they
may be; and it teaches children perfect submission to their parents and to God.
By Abraham’s obedience we are taught that nothing is too precious for us to
give to God
[57]
39
Ibid., 147
.
40
Testimonies for the Church 4:144, 145
.
41
Testimonies for the Church 3:368
.
56