Abraham had been commanded by God to give his son, his only son as an offering to the Lord only the night before. Abraham and his wife Sarah were not able to have children for years. Many years. But God blessed them in their later years and gave them Isaac, of which Abraham and Sarah were very proud.
But here Abraham stood, ready to put his son on the alter as a sacrifice to the Lord whom He had followed and obeyed his entire life. But hadn't God given Isaac to him as a reward for waiting patiently for a child? Why in the world would God now take him away from his loving parents. I am sure Abraham was very sorrowful. But he knew that he must obey what the Lord was asking him to do, and laid Isaac on top of the wood for the fire. I can't even imagine what was going through Isaac's head. I wonder if Abraham told him that God commanded Abraham to do so. But either way, Abraham was about to slay his son when an angel of the Lord came and said "Abraham, Abraham! Do not harm the child! Now I know that you fear God because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." And there, in the bushes was a ram, and Abraham sacrificed the animal and then he and the child left.
What a story. Abraham was blessed by God because he did not withhold anything from God. Not even his only son! The angel said that Abraham feared God because he gave everything to God.
What do I withhold from the Lord? I need to give it all to God no matter how hard it is, because He deserves every bit of me... not just the parts of me that are easy to give away. He wants all of me. And I will be blessed by giving all.
I must not withhold anything from God. After all, "no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless".
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