Faith Holds Nothing Back
Imagine approaching the altar with open hands before the Lord. As you draw nearer, you begin to offer the small parts of your life—your time, plans, and preferences—which you surrender willingly. However, as your connection with the Lord deepens, He starts to ask for more. He doesn’t want only the easy sacrifices; He desires everything from you. He asks you to give Him what you cherish most, even what you wish He would never touch. True faith occurs when you hold nothing back. All that we are, have, and desire is placed on the altar before the Lord. In Genesis 22, Abraham faces this moment at the altar—the Lord asks him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son and the son of promise. This story isn't about the extreme request but about the heart of surrender. God shows us what faith looks like when we put everything and every part of us on the altar and trust Him completely. Read Genesis 22:8:
Genesis 22:8
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
THE DIFFICULT COMMAND
Genesis 22 begins with the Lord approaching Abraham to test his faith. He commands Abraham to take his only son and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. This is a difficult command—asking for everything. Abraham might have thought that God would never ask for Isaac, since he was the promised heir, and perhaps believed that God only required easy sacrifices. However, God reveals a deeper truth: He doesn’t want just the easy surrenders but desires everything to be given up. When we face challenging commands from God, it shows us what we might be holding back. It prompts us to ask ourselves: “What am I unwilling to place on the altar before the Lord?”
THE COMMITMENT TO OBEDIENCE
Genesis 22 continues by describing Abraham’s response. He does not argue, complain, or question; instead, he gets up and departs. Abraham’s devotion to the Lord surpassed any worries, doubts, or uncertainties he might have had. He exemplifies that true faith doesn't argue at the altar. Unlike Lot in Sodom, Abraham did not delay or respond with slow obedience. He moved forward with confidence and conviction. Genuine surrender happens when we release everything in our hands, even if it weighs heavily on our hearts. Authentic faith is shown in the willingness to hold nothing back. It doesn’t wait for surrender to feel easy; it obeys out of complete dependence and trust in the Lord.
THE RESPONSE OF CERTAINTY
Abraham wasn't fully aware of how God would carry out every detail of the command, but he trusted the Lord completely. This faith becomes evident when Abraham answers Isaac's question about the missing lamb, confidently saying that the Lord will provide. Standing at the altar, Abraham didn't have all the answers, but he trusted that God did. He didn't need complete understanding to obey, because faith gives confidence in the Lord. Just like Abraham, God often calls us to respond to Him without full understanding. We may not see the outcome, but our faith should lead us to follow, trusting that the Lord is already at work and will act perfectly in His timing.
THE DEDICATION TO THE CALL
Abraham continued to follow God's guidance by building an altar for the burnt offering. His dedication was rooted not in feelings but in his understanding of who God is. Faith prompted Abraham to build the altar, bind Isaac, and raise the knife, ready to sacrifice his only son. Abraham was fully committed in his faith. Surrender is more than symbolic or superficial; it is decisive. Instead of just talking about putting Isaac on the altar, Abraham acts by doing so. Faith demands holding nothing back, even when the stakes are high. When we reach the altar, our intentions must turn into actions, and our devotion should be clearly visible.
THE COMPLETE PROVISION
God intervenes just before Abraham can sacrifice Isaac. He commends Abraham for his faith and willingness to surrender everything. God didn’t only stop the sacrifice but also provided a ram so that Abraham and Isaac could worship Him. It is only when Abraham fully surrenders that he begins to see what God has prepared and planned. When we face an altar that demands surrender, our total submission allows us to reach a place of revelation and experience God’s provision. It’s important to understand that God’s intention wasn’t to take Isaac, but to capture Abraham’s heart.
Every believer must decide what they will place on the altar. Faith holds nothing back because it trusts that whatever God asks for, He is faithful to provide something greater in return. The god who met Abraham at the altar still meets His people today. When everything is laid before Him, we discover that God is enough–and He always provides.
