Sacrifice: A Birthplace of Blessing

Reading of the Day: Genesis 22-24

Genesis 22:13: And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

In this Scripture, Abraham was trying to purchase a burying place for his wife, Sarah. He was purchasing it from the children of Heth, particularly, a man named Ephron. Ephron and his people were so fond of Abraham and admired the man he was, so they offered it to him for free...even knowing Abraham's wealth of goods he had to offer them! That's how much Abraham was respected for being such a godly man! But in being a man that loved and feared The Lord, Abraham would not take the land without payment. He knew all good things come with sacrifice...especially because in the chapter before this, Abraham was tested in the greatest way: to offer up the promised son he had waited years to have. Of course, God did not allow him to sacrifice his son, but it was his willingness to obey The Lord which was needed in that moment. So, after going through this tough test, Abraham walked through life knowing that the birthplace of blessing can be, and usually is, sacrifice. Every sacrifice tests our willingness to obey God and our loyalty to Him as the Love, and Savior, of our lives. Abraham knew God gave him his son, and so his son ultimately belonged to The Lord to begin with. Every child is a precious blessing we are entrusted to care for, love, and teach about The Lord. Birthing a child is a sacrifice of our comfort. It brings on pain. It brings forth a human being with many needs. But in that sacrifice, we get to hold the most beautiful blessings & treasures ever, which bring us so much joy! The next time we wonder why we can't just take the easy way out, let's just remember that sacrifice is the birthplace of our greatest blessings...and no price is greater than what Jesus paid for us on the cross!