What first leaps to mind when you think of worship?
Merriam-Webster.com defines worship first as offering reverence to a divine being or supernatural power.
We can express this reverence through a worship service where praises, hymns, thanksgiving, teachings, and prayers are offered to a divine being or supernatural power in a group setting.
We can also worship in smaller group settings or individually.
A secondary definition reminds us we can worship any person or object we choose to offer extravagant respect, admiration, or devotion toward.
Consider the following examples Merriam-Webster.com used to illustrate this secondary definition.
- A celebrity is worshipped by his or her fans.
- There are those who worship the dollar.
What does this have to do with respecting God through worship and Genesis 22:5?
Respecting God Through Worship |Genesis 22:5 | The Backstory
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.”[1]
When Abraham was seventy-five years old and still known as Abram, he departed from Haran in response to a promise from the Lord. (Genesis 12:1-5)
Once Abraham and all who he took with him arrived in the land of Canaan, the Lord gave another promise.
7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.”[2]
Ten years later, at age eighty-five, Abraham fathers a child through the maidservant Hagar. (Genesis 16:3-4)
Later, when Abraham was ninety-nine years old, the Lord clarified the actual child of promise would come from Sarah, Abraham’s wife. (Genesis 17:15-19)
Finally, at age 100, Abraham receives Isaac, the promised child, with Sarah, his wife, just as God promised. (Genesis 21:1-8)
How many years passed from the time God called Abraham to travel to Canaan until Isaac was born?
Reflect on a few of the editorial headings from Genesis chapters 12-21.
- The Call of Abram (Genesis 12:1-9)
- Abram and Sarai in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20)
- Abram and Lot Separate (Genesis 13:1-18)
- Abram Rescues Lot (Genesis 14:1-16)
- Abram Blessed by Melchizedek (Genesis 14:17-24)
- God’s Covenant with Abram (Genesis 15:1-20)
- Abraham and the Covenant of Circumcision (Genesis 17:1-14)
- Isaac’s Birth Promised (Genesis 17:15-18:20)
- Abraham Intercedes for Sodom (Genesis 18:21-33)
- Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 20:1-18)
- The Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-20)
- A Treaty with Abimelech (Genesis 21:22-34)
What stands out about Abraham just from these headings?
How involved is God in Abraham’s life based on these headings?
Respecting God Through Worship |Genesis 22:5 | The Immediate Context
The next editorial heading in Genesis is The Sacrifice of Isaac. (Genesis 22:1-24)
Wait, what?
Read Genesis 22:1-5.
The Sacrifice of Isaac
22 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.”[3]
Considering Abraham’s backstory, why might God choose to test Abraham in this way?
Genesis 22:3 tells us that Abraham did as God commanded early the next morning.
As they drew near the destination, Abraham told the servants to stay behind while he and Isaac went further to worship.
Abraham also states that he and Isaac will both return.
What from Abraham’s backstory gives Abraham the confidence to believe that Isaac would return with him?
The author of Hebrews explains Abraham’s faith in this moment.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. [4]
Abraham’s faith developed through years of experiencing God’s divine presence, protection, and provision.
During this difficult testing, Abraham clung to the promise God gave about Isaac in Genesis 21:12.
As a result, God stopped Abraham from slaying Isaac and provided a ram in place of Isaac for the sacrificial worship. (Genesis 22:9-14)
Abraham’s devotion centered on God alone.
Respecting God Through Worship |Genesis 22:5 | Application
The style of worship that God asked Abraham to practice in this passage was that of providing a literal burnt offering to the Lord.
Today, thanks to Christ’s death and resurrection, we no longer need to practice this style of worship. (Hebrews 10:1-18)
Yet, the discipline of respecting God through worship is still required, whether done as a large group or individually.
The Hebrew word for worship literally means to “bow down.”
Bowing down to another shows honor, reverence, and respect for that person.
Abraham highlights our need for obedience to respect God through worshipping Him, and him alone, in today’s passage.
Respecting God through worship is about putting God first in our lives.
Remember, worshipping God can happen in large groups, small groups, or alone.
Meeting in large and small groups for worship builds a sense of community and fellowship. Opportunities for encouragement and accountability exist in these settings as well.
Our private worship experiences build intimacy and depth into our relationship with God.
Is there anything in your life that you cherish more than God? Why or why not?
What do you respect about God?
How does your respect for God move you to worship Him?
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire. [5]
Blessings,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 22:5.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 12:7.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 22:1–5.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 11:17–19.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 12:28–29.