A Test of Loyalty

My church is doing a chronological reading plan through the story of Scripture, and today we’re reading Genesis 22.  It’s one of my favorite chapters of Genesis for its rich foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice, but today as I read it, I was really struck from another angle – a test of loyalty to the LORD over loyalty to family.

Genesis 22:1-2 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

Abraham had waited 25 years for his son of promise (Ge 12:4, 21:5)—the son by whom his offspring would be reckoned (Ge 17:19, 21; Ge 21:12).  Isaac.  His name means “laughter”, for he brought laughter to his aged father and mother (Ge 17:17, Ge 18:12-15), that Sarah should have the pleasure of giving birth to a son, though she was past childbearing age.

We have the benefit of hindsight, but Abraham didn’t.  And we don’t have it when we are tested, either.

In years past, despite God’s promise to make a him a great nation (Ge 12:2), in his fear of being murdered on account of his gorgeous wife (Ge 12:11-12, 20:11), Abraham resorted to half-truth (Ge 20:12), and compelled his wife Sarah to follow suit (Ge 12:13, 20:13). But this time, Abraham’s faith was stronger, reasoning that God was able to raise Isaac even from the dead so that He would fulfill His covenant.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NKJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Now Abraham rose early in the morning to obey the voice of the LORD.

Genesis 22:3-5 (NKJV)
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

I wonder what was going through Abraham’s mind as he journeyed those three days.  His testing wasn’t instantaneous—he had to walk three days in faith anticipating the sacrifice he would offer.

Genesis 22:6-8 (NKJV)
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Was this exchange between a father and son heart wrenching for Abraham? We don’t know. But Abraham’s reply exalted God. What a witness to give a son!

Genesis 22:9-10 (NKJV)
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

It must have been so difficult—for both of them. There’s no hint of Isaac struggling.

Genesis 22:11-14 (NJKV)
11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Wow. At the last moment, the LORD stops the test. Abraham demonstrated that he really did fear God.

Genesis 22:15-18 (NKJV)
15 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

What a test our forefather in the faith endured, and what a blessing! Obedience really matters, and glorifies the name of the LORD.

Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV)
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Jesus wasn’t preaching the prosperity gospel. He didn’t make it more palatable, so that more people would want to follow Him. Jesus wants people who truly honor Him as Lord. He does not advocate literal hate for family members or our own life—but a loyalty to God that far outweighs the love for family, so the latter seems like hate. He offers us abundant life, but challenges us to count the cost. No one knows when he or she might be called upon to demonstrate love for God more than family. Abraham was probably having a normal day when God called to him and asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Others are suddenly called to trust God through a family member’s illness or death.

In Christ, we have a new family—those who obey the will of the Father.

Matthew 12:46-50 (NKJV)
46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. 47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

As for our earthly family members, sometimes Christ divides between us. We hear of it, but this is a pain we cannot understand unless it belongs to us.

Matthew 10:34-39 (NKJV)
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Our LORD can understand the anguish we may experience if we’re tested in severe ways to prove our loyalty to Him over our family members. Father and Son felt it when Jesus was dying on the cross for our sins. The Father gave his only Son, whom He loved. What a precious sacrifice!

We’re living in an age where the family is so attacked. In America, we see it in the prevalence of broken and dysfunctional families. In some countries, the decision to follow Christ could mean being put to death by a family member. Before Jesus returns, this will be the case everywhere.

Mark 13:12-13 (NKJV)
12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Micah 7:5-7 (NKV)
5 Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
6 For son dishonors father,
Daughter rises against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
7 Therefore I will look to the LORD;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.

Do we love the LORD our God enough to choose Him above our children, or other family members? By meditating on His Word and abiding in Him now, may we ready ourselves to pass tests of loyalty like Abraham, in whatever form they may come. Praise be to the LORD.