“Then He said, “Take now 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)

One day a very wealthy young man approached Jesus with a question. He wanted to know what was required of him to gain eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He had kept all the commandments, he assured the Good Teacher. Jesus blew right past that fallacy and went straight for the man’s Isaac. “Then give up your wealth. Come be poor with Me.” (Luke 18:22) The rich ruler walked away clutching his Isaac tightly.

“Man,” we reason to ourselves, “that young fellow kept so little [transient earthly goods] and gave up so much [treasures in heaven].” But what of our Isaac’s? When the Lord says, “Cast that habit away; give up that temporal thing you so cherish; walk away from that and that and don’t look back.” - how do you and I respond? Honestly??? I know I still have pockets full of Isaac’s even after all these years as a Christian. The clutching hands of a fool. And the attempts to bargain. “Not Isaac, Lord. But, this or this, instead.”

Francois Fenelon brings it right on home for us: “Often what you offer God is not what He wants. He usually wants that which you dread giving Him. It is Isaac, the well-beloved, that He wants you to give up. What He is after is what comes between you and Him. He will not rest, and neither will you, I might add, until you have given Him everything. If you want to prosper and enjoy God’s blessing, don’t hold anything back from Him. What comfort, freedom, and strength there is when nothing stands between you and God.” (The Seeking Heart)

Abraham laid Isaac on the altar and became the purveyor of blessings for all the nations of the earth. (Genesis 22:11-19) The rich young ruler kept Isaac to himself and became a sad object lesson of failure. What a difference!

HE wants our Isaac’s. Is HE getting them?