Saturday 22 June, 2019

22 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded 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. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” 6 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, 7 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?” 8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

As I read this story about Abraham and Isaac I cringe. I think how could a father do this? It’s not right. How could he obey in this situation? How could God ask it of him? What sort of God is this? Why is this story told?

Then I am hit with this phrase..

“God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.”

Jesus was a man. A real man. As real as Isaac. He was a son. A real son. A one and only Son. Just like Isaac. He was obedient. He carried his own wood for the offering. Like Isaac. But for Jesus (and for his Father, God) there was no other lamb. He, Jesus, was the lamb that God provided.

God did not and will not ask of any other father to do this. No father is to sacrifice his son. For no other son is perfect. No other son is unblemished. No other son could take upon himself the sin of the world. Only Jesus. Gods one and only son. The perfect man. The perfect son.

This is a prophecy. A prophetic story. A story told before Jesus came. A story to tell of Him, the Son of God who will come as a man and carry his own wood and hang on it himself as an offering for all. Taking away the sins of all, so that they might be set right with God and know Him. This is a prophetic promise story.

Thank you God for providing the lamb. Thank you for sending your one and only Son Jesus to die for me. Thank you for taking my sin. Thank you for making me clean. I believe in you. Thank you, that I now have eternal life because of all you have done for me.

Written by Ps. Zoe Stewart