LOVE HIM, MORE THAN ANYTHING ON EARTH!

By James Baker

​Genesis 22.1-19   “After these things God tested Abraham, and said to 
him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, 
your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori′ah, and 
offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which 
I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his 
ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he 
cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place 
of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his 
eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, 
“Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, 
then come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt 
offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the 
fire and the knife and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac 
said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my 
son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb 
for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide himself the 
lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them 
together.9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, 
Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound 
Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, with the wood. 10 Then 
Abraham put forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But 
the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, 
Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand 
on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, 
seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And 
Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a 
ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the 
ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So 
Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will provide;[a] as it 
is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be 
provided.”[b] 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second 
time from heaven, 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the Lord, 
because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only 
son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants 
as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And 
your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by 
your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, 
because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young 
men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt 
at Beer-sheba.”

As you have just seen, Abraham was not going to allow anything to 
stand in the way of his love and obedience to the Lord.  This man was 
willing to take his son and offer his him as sacrifice.     Just think 
about that for a moment.  This is unbelievable devotion and it is the 
same type of love and obedience we should have.  Look at these verses.

Exodus 3.5-10,   “You shall have no  gods other than me.”   Proverbs 
3.5-10 “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your 
own insight. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make 
straight your paths.7 Be not wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord, and 
turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and 
refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your substance and 
with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be 
filled and your vats will be bursting with wine.    Luke 10.27 And he 
answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and 
with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your 
mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”   Matt 6.33.  But seek first his 
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as 
well.   1 Cor 8.3 “If a person loves God, the same is known of him.

This leaves us one option and that is to do what these scriptures 
teach. Develop strong faith and obey the gospel, so we can benefit 
from the promises found in the word of God.