Genesis 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.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
Here it is: the very first use of the word "worship" in scripture. It is not necessarily the first act of worship by any means, but it is very revealing when we contrast what is going on here with what we often think of as worship. It costs - an costs a lot. Not only is there the possibility of losing his son, there is also the cost of the trip - taking along his son and helpers. There is the time involved. There is a lot of spiritual and emotional energy spent. But there is also the almost forgotten aspect of worshiping together, as a family, and how special this event was, not only for them, but for generations to come. Worship is special. Let's not take it lightly for the experience or the long-term effects. May we be "all in" for whatever God has prepared for us in worship.
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