Tag: let go

This life is not mine

Leave a comment

let godChapters Read: Genesis 22:1 – 24:67

“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.” – Genesis 22:2

In Genesis 22, Abraham’s faith and obedience was tested when God commanded him to sacrifice the son he loved, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Without question, Abraham obeyed and brought Isaac with him to a mountain in Moriah where he built an altar where his son would be slayed. As Abraham’s knife was lifted and ready to end Isaac’s life, the angel of the Lord intervened and withheld him from killing his son because God had seen his sincerity and fear of the Lord through this test. God provided a ram for Abraham to slay and offer to Him as a burnt offering instead.

As this was a story of Abraham’s obedience and God’s providence, I could not help but read into this in Isaac’s perspective.

The only time Isaac spoke in this chapter was in verse 7, when he noticed that his father did not bring a lamb with him: “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” After that, there was no account on how Isaac felt the moment he realized that the intended offering wasn’t a lamb, but him. Was he afraid? Was he hurt? Did he feel privileged that God considered his life to be a pleasing offering? We could not tell exactly, but what we know is this–Isaac did not run away. He stayed and let his father bind him and lay him on the altar.

If I were in Isaac’s place, I’m not sure if I would have acted the same way. I would have cowered and cried for my father Abraham to hide and protect me. And this just shows how much in love I am with my life right now.

For me Genesis 22 is a reminder that I don’t own this life. It was God who gave me life, and so it should be lived in the way He wanted. If He wanted to bind my hands so I could only use it for works that would glorify Him, I should let him. If He wanted me to sacrifice desires and offer my life to him (literally and figuratively), I should obey. No matter how I feel, I should let go and let God be the Lord over my life.