Genesis 22:2-3
Question
When we consider the overwhelming instruction from the Lord to Abraham to offer his only son as a sacrifice, Abraham’s strict obedience is inspiring. Elder Hunter invites each of us to “decide now to serve the Lord.” How does the example of Abraham strengthen your faith to follow God’s commandments in any situation?
Scripture
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:2-3
Quote
Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel. … How pleased the Lord must have been when Abraham, after receiving direction to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, did as he was instructed, without question and without wavering. The record states that God said unto Abraham:
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”
The next verse simply states:
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning … and took … Isaac his son … and went unto the place of which God had told him.” …
There is good reason to make our decision now to serve the Lord. … [W]hen the complications and temptations of life are somewhat removed, and when we have the time and more of an inclination to take an eternal perspective, we can more clearly evaluate what will bring us the greatest happiness in life. We should decide now, in the light of the morning, how we will act when the darkness of night and when the storms of temptation arrive.
I pray that we will have the strength to decide now to do what we ought to do. I pray that we will decide now to serve the Lord.
Elder Howard W. Hunter
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