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God's Great Sacrifice

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 6, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 6.

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God's Great Sacrifice

By C. C. Webster

C. C. WEBSTER
Little do we realize the extent of the great sacrifice that God made in offering his Son for fallen humanity. Of all the offerings ever made only one has approached a shadow of similarity.
Abraham was called to pass through the closest test that man was ever called to endure, and the sacrifice that he was asked to make gives us a faint idea of the wonderful sacrifice that God made for us.
The birth of Isaac after a long life of waiting brought the fulfilment of Abraham's dearest hopes. He had now reached the age of one hundred twenty years, and was looked upon as an old man even in his generation. He not only regarded Isaac as the promised son and heir, but also as the one who would relieve him of his heavy burdens, and steady his faltering footsteps to the grave; but the commandment came, “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.” With a heart almost ready to burst, he goes to Isaac's couch where he was sleeping the sleep of innocence and youth. At last he awakens him, for the day is approaching and he must be on his journey to Mt. Moriah. How the father's heart was wrung when the son asked the question, “My father, . . . behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
After all the preparations were made, Abraham unfolded to his son the divine message. The young man might have escaped his fate, but he had been brought up to fear and reverence the commandments of God, and he only sought to lighten his father's grief, and encourage his shaking hand to bind the cords that should confine him to the altar.
O, what a son! Abraham perhaps could have borne the loss had his son been stricken by sickness or accident; but now he must take his son's life with his own hand and offer him on the altar of sacrifice! It was only his love and reverence for God that gave him the strength to go on and make the sacrifice.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” He so loved that he gave that which he loved. O, what measureless love! What fathomless love! And he wants the same love in return; he wants the love that brings with it a willingness to sacrifice all.
He wants us to fit our sons and daughters for, and then offer them to, foreign fields. He wants us to lay our means, yea, ourselves, upon the altar; and why should we not if we believe and love the truth more than anything else? Love and sacrifice are inseparable.
Burton, Ohio.