Worship 1 – surrendering all to God

The Aim of this devotional study is to study the first mention of worship in the Bible.

Scripture

Genesis 22:1-6

1  After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”  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.”

3  So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4  On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.  5  Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”  6  And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.

Observation

Context: This is the beginning of the historic event where Abraham obeyed God and offered Isaac went to offer his son Isaac, before the Lord intervened. 

1. When someone invite you to a worship celebration, what do you expect?
2. This is the first mention of “worship” in the Bible. What other words would you use to describe Abraham’s attitudes and activities in response to God’s command?
3. Look at Abraham’s response to God’s command
   1. How soon after God commanend this big sacrifice did Abraham obey? What does that say about his devotion to God?
   2. How long did Abraham journey to obey God? What does that say about his devotion to God?
   3. What efforts did Abraham make to obey God? What does that say about his devotion to God?
4. Considering this text, what do you learn of Abraham’s worship in terms of:
   1. Surrendering all to God.
   2. Obedience to God.
   3. Faith in God.
   4. Devotion to God.

Application and Prayer

God asked Abraham for the biggest and most precious thing in life – Isaac, his son, his legacy.   And Abraham worshipped God by implicit, radical surrender and obedience.

1. What is the ONE thing in your life that – if God asks you to do or to give up – you might be tempted to say “no”?
   1. Honestly tell God how you feel about that.
   2. As Abraham, reflect on God as the “Giver of All Good Things” that gave this and can bring it back to life again.
   3. Ask God for grace to surrender even this to Him, and when you’re ready – surrender this thing to God from the heart.
2. In prayer, worship God by surrendering every aspect of your life to God, devoting your whole self in service to Him, as Paul wrote:

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”