I was reading Genesis 22 a couple of days ago, where God called Abraham to sacrifice his son. Not just to give him up or send him away, but to burn him as an offering. God didn't even tell Abraham where to go; he only said, "on one of the mountains, which I will show you." Wow.
Abraham took his servants and his son and set off on the journey, not knowing how long it would take, or what kind of terrain they would have to cross. God did show him the mountain. Abraham laid his son on the altar. And God stepped in, stopped the sacrifice, and provided a ram to sacrifice instead.
There were several things that interested me in the story; first, the importance of setting an example of individual worship for your children.
Isaac knew from watching his father through the years what was required for worship: the fire and knife, wood, and a lamb for sacrifice. He saw his father had the first two elements, he had the third, but the lamb was missing, so he asked Abraham, who famously replied, "God will provide himself a lamb..."
Growing up, I saw my father's worship every day. He would get up early, do some calisthenics, then settle down at the table with his Bible. He would pray for what seemed like forever to my childish eyes, then he'd open up the Scriptures while he ate breakfast. Every day. He got up early to worship every day. His godly example was pressed on my mind from an early age, just as Abraham's worship influenced his son Isaac. It is important to cultivate that individual relationship of worship with God because the next generation is not going to just take our word for it; they have to see us consistently live out our worship through the months and years.
The other thing I noticed was that God didn't just have a general mountain that everyone knew was the place to worship, and you'd go and give whatever you wanted to God. No. God had in mind a specific journey to that one altar and a specific command of sacrifice: "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much...Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering."
God does the same thing today.
In the church, we talk a lot.
"Give up your life to the Lord."
"Just surrender everything."
"Come and lay it all on the altar."
They can be as comforting as they are challenging, as long as we keep them in generalities. "Oh, yes, take it all, Lord."
But then, if we really listen to Him, He has this habit of making it uncomfortably personal. And specific. He says, "I don't just want your general 'everything.' I want that one place, that specific desire, that you're holding back. You're using the phrase, 'I'm giving it all' as a screen to keep from seeing that there is a place where you don't want me; to keep me from getting too close and invading that area of your life. I want you to be my friend, as Abraham was my friend, but first you have to come to that mountain, the one I will show you, and give up what you love."
But God didn't show Abraham the mountain from where he was camped. Abraham had to commit to the journey. He had to step out and begin, showing his commitment by leaving his home. And I think it's the same way for us. We have to set out by actively seeking God, spending time listening, probing our hearts for the direction that God might want to take us, seeing strongholds and asking, "Is this the mountain?"
After God provided a ram to sacrifice, it became a proverb in the land, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." And God still promises us his provision: Grace, mercy, strength in time of need. But it will not be provided until we come to the mountain, prepared to sacrifice.
So, these have been my thoughts. I wanted to write a song about it, but it didn't work. It ended up being a poem, and a rather long poem at that. And it didn't use the phrase I liked and wanted to use, so it will just be the title, the same as the title for this blog.
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The word of God came to Abraham
and cut him to the heart.
"Bring your son, your only son,
to the place I've set apart.
Bring him to my mountain,
the one I'll show to you.
There burn him as an offering."
Could this command be true?
At the mountain they left their servants
and the two went on alone.
Abram's heart was as heavy
as the altar made of stone.
Isaac's question broke the silence
he saw the wood, fire, and knife...
But he didn't know the sacrifice
was to give up his own life.
At the mountain's top they laid aside
the burdens they had brought,
and Abraham told his son
the commandment of their God.
The tears rolled down his cheeks unchecked
as he tied up his dear boy
He placed him on the altar there,
his whole life's pride and joy.
He raised the knife, poised to strike,
but the angel stayed his hand,
And God's friend Abraham received
his son, as though from the dead.
Their spirits soared as they rejoiced
when a sound turned Abraham's head:
He looked up--there on the mountain,
God provided himself a lamb.
On another mountain, Calvary,
God gave another Lamb,
And salvation full and free,
if I come just as I am
To the mountain that he shows to me
where I must take the knife
And kill the selfish part that tries
to order my own life.
I must lay on the altar
all I hold most dear:
My thoughts and dreams and passions,
hopes and plans and fears.
I must burn them on the mountain
and through the ashes see
That through God's Lamb is given grace
for all my deepest needs.
But though Abram left the mountain,
nevermore there to return,
I find each day so many things
to sacrifice, to burn.
But God calls from the mountain,
his voice pleads with my heart,
"Lay down the foolish pride and self
that's keeping us apart.
Come back now to the mountain,
you know I'll meet you here.
Come back and give yourself to me;
let my love cast out fear."
So I'm headed for the mountain
with my fire and knife
Knowing the way to be with God
is to let him have my life.
To give him every part of me
is what I long to do
I'm going to the mountain.
Now the question is: will you?
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