Costly Sacrifice

Genesis 20-22; Luke 8

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’”

Genesis 22:14

The Lord initiated the test of asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering on the mountain which he would show him. This mountain was known as Mount Moriah, the same place Solomon later built his temple. The ground had been purchased by his father, David, from Araunah the Jebusite. At that time David declared, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).” The same principle of costly sacrifice was established on Mount Moriah by Abraham in his obedience to God’s command. In response, God blessed Abraham, renewed his covenant with Abraham, and revealed himself as ‘The Lord Will Provide,’ Jehovah Jireh.

Are we obeying the Lord in our tests of faith, willingly sacrificing what he asks of us so we, too, can experience the reality of Jehovah Jireh?

It was on Mount Moriah that the most costly sacrifice of all, the son of God, Jesus Christ, willingly offered his life for the sin of the world in obedience to the Father’s will. As those who have received salvation through the sacrifice, we have the privilege of offering to the Lord our very lives as living sacrifices, which is only reasonable (Romans 12:1, 2).

“Lord Jesus, Lamb of God, I offer my life to you again this day, for your glory.”