Genesis 22: 1-14
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a bunt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled 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. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in a distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, you only son.”
Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On this mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
A Thought
My heart is filled with sadness as I read these scriptures, but this is a picture of what God the Father completely accomplished when he gave his Son, his one and only son, Jesus the Christ as our perfect sacrifice for sin. God did not withhold his Son, his one and only son whom he loved. His Son did submit himself to death, even death on a cross. God gave his Son as a substitute for the penalty for our sin. Yes, The Lord has Provided. Why? Because of his great love for each of us. Will you receive his love and grace for your life today?
Our Prayer
Father I’m sorry that the cost of my sin was so great a penalty for you and your Son to pay. Help me never forget the price for sin or the sacrifice that was made that I may have a new life with you. Thank you that you have provided everything possible for everyone in the name of Jesus the Christ, our redeemer, amen.
