Some time later God tested Abraham. – Genesis 22:1
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” – Genesis 22:15-18
Last week, we saw from Scriptures the key that can brings restoration and fruitfulness to our families, companies, and entire economies. This key, exemplified to us in the love of a husband for his wife, demonstrates a spiritual principle of releasing God’s power through sacrifice. This week, we press further into this principle by looking at Abraham’s famous account of sacrificing Isaac. This well known story of love and faith reveals a few key insights on how God sees sacrificial expression:
- For those that God wants to bless, He will lead us to partake in sacrifice so that this spiritual law of blessing will be activated in us. When God calls us to sacrifice, it is not for vain suffering. It is actually the path to greater restoration and fruitfulness. It is important for us to recognize this working of the Lord so we do not end up fighting it.
- Sacrifice is the outward manifestation of our faith. Giving in sacrifice is irreversible, often painful, and carries no expectation of reciprocation. We are called to let go of our own agenda – our strivings for control, emotional fulfillment, reputation, security and predictability. We must step aside and let God be God.
- The Lord is mainly concerned with our heart. He considers the intent to sacrifice to be equivalent as the action.
Market Place Prayer
May the Lord show mercy to the 10,500 market place leaders as He had for Abraham. Teach us and lead us into the place of sacrifice so we can become witnesses of restoration and fruitfulness in the places you have called us to – our families, fellowships, companies, entire economic systems, and to the end of the earth.
