We need to see and evaluate everything from God’s viewpoint.
Does it seem unreasonable to you that Jesus said (Matthew 10:37) we cannot be His disciples if we love parents, spouse or even children, which are (Psalms 127:3) God’s gift, more than we love Him? Actually, this is explained in the first Book of the Bible and its inherent danger is exposed.
One evening, long ago, God took Abraham (Genesis 15:5) out into the starlight and promised him that his descendants would be as many as the stars of the heavens, through a son that God would give him. The Lord waited until Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 so that there could be doubt that this was the miracle birth of the promised son. Through Abraham’s offspring would come King David and later the holy SEED from Abraham (Galatians 3:8) Who would be the Messiah of Israel and the saviour of the world. God’s focus is always John 3:16.
Isaac would have a son named Jacob. Jacob would have 12 sons and they would be the originators, the beginnings of the 12 Tribes, which would become the Nation of Israel. A wonderful prospective and we can see how it looked like all the promises and the whole future depended on Isaac. That all sounds great – BUT – suddenly things took a strange and unexpected turn. Abraham dearly loved his son. Isaac was the joy and crowning jewel of Abraham’s life. All God’s promises for a glorious future were tied up in Isaac. But then – oh surely not – (Genesis 22:2) God told Abraham to take the son he adored, that cherished son, to a specified place and there offer him for a burnt offering of sacrifice to the Lord. The results were (Genesis 24:16-18) the fulfillment of God’s promise and blessing to the whole world. The result for Abraham was that he discovered what God already knew - - that he was fully committed to obey God and also that he did love God supremely. No matter how it looks, there is no risk in obedience. That is why the Lord arranged this test, to reveal to Abraham something about himself and something about God. Before Abraham offered Isaac, God’s promises were guaranteed established history just waiting for the predestined time to happen.
Now as we connect this with the command to love the Lord above all, we can understand the very reasonable reason for both. Because Abraham was counting on and filled with God’s promise and he realized the tremendous significance and necessity of Isaac, there was a great danger that Isaac could become an idol in Abraham’s life, in the heart and centre of his devotion. This is a warning for us and the command is for our protection.
Look very carefully at every aspect of your life and everything you own. Is there anything you possess that you would not willingly sacrifice to the Lord? If so, that thing is or could become an idol. Any idol in your life, no matter what, puts you in grave danger. God created marriage and family so of course we are to love and care for our relatives. But God must be first. It is a very serious sin to disobey God in order to please or obey a relative or anyone else. God made us (Isaiah 49:5) we are created to be His servants for His creative purposes, because we are (John 17:2) God’s gift to Jesus.
(Oswald Chambers) “Jesus Christ has made us perfectly fit for God through salvation. We shall understand that His commands are for absolute obedience from His saints because He has put into them the nature of God. Beware lest you forget God’s purpose for your life”. Isaac was God’s gift to Abraham. Every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) comes from the Father of constantly shining light and no shadow is ever cast by His changing or turning. His light eclipses all darkness. If we worship anything other than God, we choose darkness. God has given us gifts of health, family, finances, special abilities and talents, spiritual leaders, friends etc. Definitely we are to be thankful for all of these but we must never be so enamoured with anything that it becomes an object of worship, an idol.
Our life is a Bethlehem for the maturing of the life of the Son of God within us. I am discovering that even physical handicaps can be God’s gift to us as they become the gateway for godly wisdom, spiritual enrichment and opportunities to witness. We must meditate on the Word of God because Bible meditation is spiritual medication to maintain (3 John 2) a healthy soul. I am thankful for everything just the way it is in my life, because if or when it is not the best for me, God will change it. I am filled with the wonderful wonder-filled wonder of God.
The more intimately we know the Lord the more eagerly we will obey Him because we will have deep and growing admiration for His superb wisdom and His glorious purpose for His every command. We will have growing wonder as we realize that eternity is involved in every detail of our lives. That is why (Ecclesiastes 3:11) God has planted eternity in our hearts. The wonder of God and His timing through all the ages gives us a higher perspective on our temporary lives on earth. We begin to see and evaluate everything from God’s viewpoint.