Thoughts for another day

June 6, 2013.

Today's verse: Gen. 22:13. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

We’re familiar with this episode in the Bible pertaining to Abraham’s readiness to sacrifice his only son in obedience of God’s command; the son got after God promised; after much time, in his old age when the ability of producing one was literally impossible.  Now God was pleased with Abraham as he had willingly obeyed Him and then stopped him from sacrificing Isaac and provided a ram for the burnt offering instead whereby also we get the term in the next verse, ‘Yahweh Yireh’ which translated means, the Lord will see and we take it as the’ Lord will provide.’  It’s a beautiful reminder of what God can do for us when we trust Him completely. 

But let’s delve deeper in this act of Abraham:  we see the old man; having no clue God would stop him from sacrificing his son, going ahead to obey Him.  How many thoughts must’ve roamed in his old brain as Isaac asked him, ‘here am I your son and the fire and the wood; but where’s the lamb for the burnt offering?’  What anguish would have cut his heart for his son, his only son, whom he had held in his hand for a few years, joying in those ‘buttonny’ eyes that lit in laughter when the old man hurled him high and then held him as he came down.  But Abraham wasn’t to vacillate or swayed otherwise or argue with God; even though the command felt strange for look, He gives him a son after so long and then asks to sacrifice him!  No, the old man had faith and his faith told him that if God could give him a son at age hundred, he could do that even after many years!

Let’s look further: Look God saw it all and was pleased and as soon as Abraham lifted up his knife, He bid him stop.  Then on Good Friday, God saw the entire drama on earth; the way His Son, His only begotten Son, was treated: scourged to the chilling of the marrow in His bones, spat upon, sneered and jeered at, looked down on and then brutally crucified!  God even heard the shrill cry, ‘My God My God, why have You forsaken Me?’  But God did not relent; He turned the other way.  What had to happen, had to happen.  His Son was sacrificed for our sins.  My friend such is our God.  When it came to His only Son, He didn’t melt at His tears and save Him, but when He sees our tears, He melts.  I implore you today to see His love for you and be good to Him.