(GENESIS 22)
What was God doing? He just asked Abraham to do a very hard thing. Sometimes it is hard to know why God does the things he does. We may never know. But one thing we know - God has a plan!
So it happened that one day God came to Abraham and said, "Abraham!" "Here I am." Abraham said. God said, "Abraham, I want you to take your only son, whom you love, and go to a mountain I will show you. There I want you to sacrifice your son as a burnt offering to me."
What was God thinking? How could he ask Abraham to do such a thing? Remember, Abraham had waited a long, long time for his son Isaac. It seemed impossible that he would ever even have a son. But God had promised, and God kept his promise.
Now was God going to take his only son away? Abraham bundled the wood up and put it on his donkey, and then Abraham, Isaac, and two of Abraham's servants set out on the way God had directed them.
After walking for three days, Abraham looked up and saw the place where God was leading him. Abraham said to the men that were with him, "you stay here with the donkey, Isaac and I go to worship."
Think about it?. Abraham called this sacrifice WORSHIP.
Then he took the wood for the sacrifice and laid it on his son Isaac's back. Imagine, Isaac had to carry the wood for his own sacrifice. Many, many years later, God's own son would have to carry the wood for his own sacrifice, it would be the wood of the cross.
So Abraham and Isaac walked on together. After they had been walking a while, Isaac said, "Father?" "Yes, my son" Abraham said. Isaac said "We have the wood for the sacrifice and the fire, but where is the lamb?" "God will provide Himself a lamb," Abraham said.
How prophetic! Many years later God did provide Himself a lamb. He came and died to take away our sins. Abraham probably didn't even know what he was saying. He didn't understand but he trusted God Just as we should trust God.
The two walked up the mountain in silence. When they came to the place God spoke of, Abraham built an altar. He laid the sticks of wood on the altar and then he tied his son with rope and laid him on the wood. His heart was breaking.
Still, he trusted that God was good. He couldn't understand why he had to sacrifice his son. He only knew that God had commanded it. Abraham took out his knife and raised it in the air. Just then the angel of the Lord called out, "Abraham! Abraham!" And Abraham said, "Here I am And then God said, "Do not harm your son Isaac. Now I know you really love me, I see you have not held back your only son from me"
Just then Abraham saw a ram tangled by its horns in a nearby bush. Here was the animal for his sacrifice. God HAD provided the lamb - just like Abraham said he wouldl
And then God called to Abraham again. "Because you obeyed me, even when I asked you to do a hard thing, I will richly bless you. From you will come a great nation, and all people on earth will ask to be blessed the way I have blessed you, all because you obeyed my command."
But, why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice his only son? It was part of God's plan!
God sent Jesus to take our place just like he sent the ram to take Isaac's place. Also, think about the ram Abraham found caught in the thorny bushes (remember, Jesus had thorns around his head too, just like the ram in the thicket).
And here is the amazing, wonderful thing. Because God was willing to sacrifice his only son for us, and because Jesus was willing to die for us - we are blessed. Everyone who believes in Jesus and follows His commands will live with him forever.
God provided the lamb to save Isaac's life. Jesus is the lamb God has provided to save our lives!
What at first seems so terrible, turns out to be the most amazing wonderful thing.
God HAS provided the Lamb!
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