Worship
“Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” Genesis 22.4, 5
I can’t even begin to imagine what went through Abraham’s heart and mind when God gave to him the command to offer up his only son as a sacrifice. Abraham had previously given up hope of having an heir with Sarah. As he aged, his hopes diminished even more and he resorted to using his own devices to accomplish God’s will for his life.
Sarah, too, had lost hope and suggested that Abraham should try to have a son by Hagar, Sarah’s attendant. The plan worked and Ishmael was born. However, that was not what God had planned. They inserted human intervention as they tried to “help” God along with His purpose. There was no sacrifice. There was no submission to God’s will and authority. There was no praise or worship. What resulted was disastrous and the world is still affected by their sinful choices. Isaac and Ishmael are still at odds. Trying to manipulate God’s plan has never worked.
When all hope was gone and both Abraham and Sarah were well past the years of procreation, God stepped in and fulfilled His promise. God gave to them a son, Isaac. Life was good and Isaac was obviously the apple of his father’s eye.
Some years later as Abraham and Isaac had been enjoying a sweet father/son relationship; God stepped in again and required what seemed to be an unreasonable demand. Abraham was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering back to God.
The thought of having a second son was completely out of the question. At this point in their family, Isaac would have been a strong, young man and Abraham would have been rather frail. Yet, Abraham had learned his lesson and obeyed God immediately. Abraham packed up all the supplies that would be needed for a trip to the place of God’s calling. He took an entourage along with provisions and resources to build the fire. Leaving nothing up to chance, Abraham, Isaac and some attendants left home and headed for the place of sacrifice.
No one knows what the conversation along the way included; however, when the company had arrived at the foot of the hill, the father and son left the troop and began their climb to the top of the mountain. We know the rest of the story. Isaac carried the wood for the altar and willingly allowed his father to prepare him for the sacrifice. And, when Abraham raised his knife to slay his son, God stepped in and provided a substitutionary ram.
But please notice what Abraham told his attendants: “I and the lad will go yonder and worship.”
There was no orchestra or praise song. There were no worship leaders or festivities. There was no dinner-on-the-grounds – not even a donut or a cup of coffee.
The climb must have been done in silence as the two ascended the steep in obedience to God’s command.
Shachah is the Hebrew word which translates “worship.” It means: “to bow down, prostrate oneself in submission.” We tend to enjoy praise a bit more because we are so often joined with many others as we lift our hearts and voices in praise unto God. However, worship is a simple act of submitting to God’s Will. It may not always be immediately enjoyable, and it may cost us much, but it is always the right thing to do and it brings eternal rewards.
Sarah, too, had lost hope and suggested that Abraham should try to have a son by Hagar, Sarah’s attendant. The plan worked and Ishmael was born. However, that was not what God had planned. They inserted human intervention as they tried to “help” God along with His purpose. There was no sacrifice. There was no submission to God’s will and authority. There was no praise or worship. What resulted was disastrous and the world is still affected by their sinful choices. Isaac and Ishmael are still at odds. Trying to manipulate God’s plan has never worked.
When all hope was gone and both Abraham and Sarah were well past the years of procreation, God stepped in and fulfilled His promise. God gave to them a son, Isaac. Life was good and Isaac was obviously the apple of his father’s eye.
Some years later as Abraham and Isaac had been enjoying a sweet father/son relationship; God stepped in again and required what seemed to be an unreasonable demand. Abraham was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering back to God.
The thought of having a second son was completely out of the question. At this point in their family, Isaac would have been a strong, young man and Abraham would have been rather frail. Yet, Abraham had learned his lesson and obeyed God immediately. Abraham packed up all the supplies that would be needed for a trip to the place of God’s calling. He took an entourage along with provisions and resources to build the fire. Leaving nothing up to chance, Abraham, Isaac and some attendants left home and headed for the place of sacrifice.
No one knows what the conversation along the way included; however, when the company had arrived at the foot of the hill, the father and son left the troop and began their climb to the top of the mountain. We know the rest of the story. Isaac carried the wood for the altar and willingly allowed his father to prepare him for the sacrifice. And, when Abraham raised his knife to slay his son, God stepped in and provided a substitutionary ram.
But please notice what Abraham told his attendants: “I and the lad will go yonder and worship.”
There was no orchestra or praise song. There were no worship leaders or festivities. There was no dinner-on-the-grounds – not even a donut or a cup of coffee.
The climb must have been done in silence as the two ascended the steep in obedience to God’s command.
Shachah is the Hebrew word which translates “worship.” It means: “to bow down, prostrate oneself in submission.” We tend to enjoy praise a bit more because we are so often joined with many others as we lift our hearts and voices in praise unto God. However, worship is a simple act of submitting to God’s Will. It may not always be immediately enjoyable, and it may cost us much, but it is always the right thing to do and it brings eternal rewards.
Copyright © 2024 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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