God will not have you trusting anything other than himself, not even YOUR ISAAC. Now you can better understand why God tested Abraham's faith by telling him to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). Job said, “…the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” He must take away. Why? To show you where your ultimate trust should be.
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 the two of them walked together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father, Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham responded, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on. God will provide is just not a complete enough answer for me when I know a blood sacrifice is required. Please note: there is no rebellion in Isaac. How can two walk together accept they agree (Amos 3:3). This a perfect picture of how the Father and Son agreed, beforehand, to redeem the world.
When they arrived at the place for the sacrifice Abraham built the altar, arranged the wood, and tied his son. He laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Isaac’s obedience echoes with the confidence of another Son who prayed, "Not my will, Thy will be done." Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the long sharp knife and raised it slowly above his head. Just as his arm began the downward descent in a swift movement toward Isaac there was an urgent shout from "the angel of the LORD" saying, "Abraham, Abraham!" YOU GOT MAIL!
The angel of the Lord said to him, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son."
God will take nothing away without adding the larger dimension of HIMSELF to take its place. The old saints said, “He may not come when you want him, but he’s always right on time.” I know things might look bad right now but it ain’t over yet. Check your spiritual inbox because today… YOU GOT MAIL!
Prayer
Father, you are Jehovah-Jireh. Open the eyes of my heart to see the provision YOU have made for me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Go Deeper?
Genesis 22; Exodus 12; Psalm 2:7; Isa. 53:6-7; Amos 3:3; John 1:29; John 8:56; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 11:17–19
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 the two of them walked together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father, Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham responded, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on. God will provide is just not a complete enough answer for me when I know a blood sacrifice is required. Please note: there is no rebellion in Isaac. How can two walk together accept they agree (Amos 3:3). This a perfect picture of how the Father and Son agreed, beforehand, to redeem the world.
When they arrived at the place for the sacrifice Abraham built the altar, arranged the wood, and tied his son. He laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Isaac’s obedience echoes with the confidence of another Son who prayed, "Not my will, Thy will be done." Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the long sharp knife and raised it slowly above his head. Just as his arm began the downward descent in a swift movement toward Isaac there was an urgent shout from "the angel of the LORD" saying, "Abraham, Abraham!" YOU GOT MAIL!
The angel of the Lord said to him, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son."
God will take nothing away without adding the larger dimension of HIMSELF to take its place. The old saints said, “He may not come when you want him, but he’s always right on time.” I know things might look bad right now but it ain’t over yet. Check your spiritual inbox because today… YOU GOT MAIL!
Prayer
Father, you are Jehovah-Jireh. Open the eyes of my heart to see the provision YOU have made for me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Go Deeper?
Genesis 22; Exodus 12; Psalm 2:7; Isa. 53:6-7; Amos 3:3; John 1:29; John 8:56; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 11:17–19