God is demanding and he asks more of me than I want to give sometimes. I complain why is God so demanding. Then I recognize that I am a terrible selfish hypocritical Christian. I want all the benefits of being a child of God but I want none of the responsibility and I want none of the difficulties. But God never asks unreasonable things of me. He asks me to be giving and not selfish and I find that difficult. He wants only what is best and at the end of the day I want only to worship and love him. There is a famous moment in Genesis where God asks something unreasonable of Abraham. It would be an unreasonable request of me but Abraham’s life has been leading up to this moment. Because Abraham, who is the father of faith, has built a life that does exactly what God asks of him.

2 He said, “Take 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.” Genesis 22:2 ESV

Can God Break His Own Laws?

Be horrified at the request if you must but don’t judge God with ill intent. There are a few things we need to understand before we judge God incorrectly. We need to understand God’s place and our role in His world to fully grasp how serious God is about reconciling humanity to him as creator.

First the question naturally arises that God is asking Abraham to do something that is evil or against God’s own law. But we need to remember the context. Abraham lived before the nation of Israel is created. The nation state laws of how to worship God had not been written. But Abraham knows how to approach God. He knows right from wrong and has learned directly from his family leading all the way back to Adam. Laws like marrying a close relative have not been put in place (Abraham is married to his half-sister). Moses is not yet born to accept the Ten Commandments from God. So technically there is no law from God against what he has requested at this point in history. Abraham however does not need a law to know that God values life and this request is out of the ordinary. Abraham has a lifetime following God and God had proven himself to be faithful in everything he had ever promised Abraham. If this is what God wanted then Abraham knows that the miraculous is around the corner.

The second thing that stands out is that we are here for God not for ourselves. God gave Isaac to Abraham and if this is God’s plan to accomplish his promises then Abraham has learned to trust and obey. Jesus put it in these terms to the disciples.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15 ESV

God is Worthy

Now some might say God has an ego and God is all about himself. My response is YES! As Creator who made everything to worship him and him alone he is worthy of that adoration. God knows our limits and like a loving father he is demanding for his purpose and our benefit. An ego trip is someone who has a beginning and an end demanding undeserved attention. God is not a man or something created. Jesus is the beginning and the end. He is the Creator of time itself. We all exist because of him.

36 And as [Jesus] rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:36-40 ESV

God Gave His Only Son

Finally, God has never asked of anyone something he himself has not already done or would be willing to do himself. The epistle Hebrews makes a great point about Jesus. He is a priest who can sympathize with each of us because he has experienced temptation, sorrow, pain, and death. Jesus has experienced first hand rejection and he knows how hard it is to be poor and in want.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV

Jesus Died For You

God asked the unreasonable of Abraham a most horrifying task. God’s demanding nature is intense. Yet that is exactly what God did for you and me. He gave up his own son so that we might have life. God did not have Abraham actually go through with the request but God himself did sacrifice Jesus his own son on the cross. Isaac could not be that sacrifice but Jesus the son of God would be that perfect sacrifice.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 ESV

God has not withheld anything. He is the creator who has made life, salvation, and grace available to all who would trust him. Abraham loved God so much that he would not even withhold his own son from God. God loves us so much that he did give Jesus for us. Would that we all yield to this moment of grace and proclaim Jesus King and Lord of all.

Thanks for reading. I pray this knowledge that God will never ask you to do anything he has not already done is an encouragement to you. If so please click the like button or leave a comment. It is encouraging to me.