Genesis 22-Part 2
My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. Genesis 22:8
LET IT GLOW
A few years ago, at my husband's family reunion, his siblings and the two of us hiked a trail in a state park. We went climbed up and down hills, through wildlife, by a river, under a waterfall, and even returned on a paved road. This took place in June so it was rather warm. At our age, we
were exhausted and enjoyed it all, especially the air conditioning inside the cabin. Ours was a
hike that we will never forget. How I enjoyed God's provision in nature. So was Abraham's hike
up Mt. Moriah.
So get your hiking boots on. We're going up a mountain with Abraham and Isaac today. (If you missed yesterday's post, it would be helpful to you reading it first.)
How does chapter 22 apply to us?
- Abraham pictures God our heavenly Father;
- Isaac, Abraham's only son of promise, pictures Jesus Christ, God's only Son and the Lamb of God;
- The donkey that carried the wood pictures us weighed down with sin;
- It was a 3 day journey to Mt. Moriah (Jesus was in the tomb for 3 days.);
- Abraham and Isaac went up the mountain with the donkey carrying the wood for the burnt offering;
- Abraham laid Isaac on the wood for a sacrifice to God. (Jesus was laid on the wooden cross as the sacrifice for our sins.);
- Abraham believed in the resurrection, which meant killing Isaac, he would rise from the dead (Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days.);
- When asked by his son where the lamb for the offering was,Abraham replied, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering. Indeed he did.
- God provided a ram as a substitute for Isaac, (Jesus was our substitute, paying for our sins) which is the idea of substitutionary atonement introduced.
LET IT GROW
Abraham called the place that all this happened, Jehovah-Jireh, which means the Lord will see
to it, thus He will provide. (Falwell)
God not only provided for Abraham, but He has provided for us Jesus. Christ actually died,
while Isaac was spared. However, in God's sight Isaac had "died." (Wiersbe)
Abraham was prepared to do anything for God, even giving up an convictions and traditional
beliefs.
After all that took place, Jesus appeared to Abraham to bless him and his descendants again.
What's a lesson for us?
- Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light. Abraham obeyed without delay. If we do the one thing God tells us to do, he will reveal the next step when the right time comes.
- True faith is always tested. God did not want Isaac's life; He wanted Abraham's heart.
- Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but God tests us to help bright out the best.
- True faith is always proved by obedience. The proof of saving faith is an obedient life. (Wiersbe)
- It was in an act of obedience to a specific command of God that God knew Abraham's heart was fixed to love and trust Him. It is never what we say to God but what we do toward God once He has spoken to us!
- What God was looking for was one who feared God. (Deut. 10:12-13, 20-21) To God, when one "fears" Him, it is because he knows Him by firsthand experience and in that experience has come to know His love. (Blackaby)
- Gentiles, us, who have the faith of Abraham are the "heirs" of Abraham through grace. (Romans 4:16-25)
Are we on mission with God today?
Are we reading the Word daily and listening for Him to speak to us?
LET IT GO
Obey God, no matter the cost.
Love God with all my heart.
Listen to the Holy Spirit.
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