Genesis 22:1-5 … “The lad and I will go yonder and worship.“
Abraham’s reaction to God’s command to sacrifice Isaac upon the altar was “Yes.”
A firm yes?
I don’t know; you’ll have to ask Abraham someday. His actions indicate obedience but human nature dictates that struggle, questions, and maybe even some doubt could have played “tug-o-war” with Abraham’s faith. It usually does with mine when I attempt to “lay it all on the altar,” as they say.
Any way you calculate the equation, the sum total equals to total surrender.
The first time the word “worship” is used in Scripture is here in this story. Trust in worship is the real theme of this whole story. Does our worship carry the value of total trust and abandonment to God’s provision?
Abraham’s experience teaches us three strong lessons about worship:
1. Enter into worship carrying only the things conducive to the experience. Abraham took the wood, the fire, and a knife. Anything else was considered excess baggage.
How much excess baggage did you take to church last Sunday?
Worry, anger, ego, hurt, or hard feelings?
2. Make time to Worship.
Abraham took three days to travel to the foothills of Mt. Moriah and there he was finally able to view the worship destination; he was still some distance away.
How hurried are you when you get into God’s presence?
3. Finally, Abraham separated himself from those that just “tagged along” for the ride. Two young men accompanied him and Isaac to make sure the donkey carrying all the provisions made the trip. Some people are great “donkey maintainers,” but they aren’t focused on worship.
Are you willing to separate yourself from the crowd in order to reach the higher places to which God has called you?
There is a place in worship that Abraham called “Yonder.”
It’s further than we typically go.
It’s higher than we usually climb.
It costs more than we normally are willing to pay.
The rewards, however, are incredibly fulfilling, for there we find the promises and provision of God Himself.
Tim Hill
