Read Genesis 22:2-3      Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you."  Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.  When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.

What was that???   Can you just imagine the rapid thoughts shooting through Abraham's mind? My son? My only son? Isaac? My boy that I love?  Sacrifice? (Such an ugly word!) My son is going to be a burnt offering?  We can only imagine what that night must have been like for Abraham. But the Bible never mentions that he whined, cajoled, begged, refused, or even hesitated to follow God's life-altering instructions. What it does say is that he got up early the next morning and made preparation for the trip to Mount Moriah. Imagine his pain and bewilderment as he cut the wood for the sacrifice--the sacrifice of his son!  

Read Matthew 10:37-39     "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

In Abraham's day, the nations they had lived in, and traveled through, sacrificed their children to pagan gods (who were not gods at all).  We have no reason to believe Abraham didn't fully intend to sacrifice his son because of his devotion to God.  God doesn't require this of us, but Jesus did say in the passage above that we are to place nothing or no one above Him, and obedience to Him.  Our families, although we love and care for them, are not our gods--are they?  As we search our hearts, we must remove whatever idols are there, even if they are loved ones.  No one is to be worshipped but God.  As we see our freedoms being taken away in America, we must face the very real possibility that in our lifetimes, we may be called upon,  in a much more tangible way,  to choose between God, and whatever would challenge our allegiance to Him, even if it's our families.  We need to be praying now, not only for our country, which is in very real danger, but for ourselves, that we will be faithful to Him, no matter what. 

God says in 2 Chronicles 7:14,  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  Will we wait until we have lost the freedom we enjoy in this great country to give God the respect and honor due Him?  We are witnesses that this president has made numerous statements and promoted policies that fly in the face of God.  He announced to the whole world that America is no longer a Christian nation.  Mr. Obama has withdrawn much of the support America has historically shown for Israel.  In His word, God says He will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse them.    Are we so arrogant that we think He can't or won't back up what He has said?  A few months ago, Mr. Obama came out in support of gay marriage.  Jesus said we are to love everyone, and that includes everyone.  However, that doesn't mean contradicting God.  His word says homosexuality (I believe this to be the practice of it) is an abomination to Him.  So Mr. President, I respectfully and wholeheartedly refute what you said at that point.   God is the One Who has made us great, and when we cease to honor Him and do His bidding, He can take us down in a moment.  We needn't think He won't.  Israel is referred to in the Bible as "the apple of His eye," and He judged them more than once when they turned their backs to Him, bringing them into servitude to other nations. So we end this paragraph where we began it:  "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."