Humbled by Simple Truth…
Sometimes, the simplest truths are the most heart-wrenching. Sometimes the most obvious truths are the most thought-provoking.
The other night, while reading through Genesis with my good friend, I was brought to tears while reading of Abraham’s act of obedience concerning his son, his only son, Isaac.
Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
We see no objections from Abraham in the text, but can only imagine the overwhelming grief he must have felt when commanded to sacrifice Isaac. Without hesitation Abraham headed God’s command.
7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
Here we see, what I’m sure, a very difficult thing to say for Abraham. Yet, we also see a great proclamation of Abraham’s confidence in God’s faithfulness. Think with me, if you will, about Abraham’s immediate internal reaction to Isaac’s question. Perish the thought of taking one’s own son! Add to it the fact that this was the long awaited son promised by God years before. Nonetheless, Abraham was certain that a lamb would be provided and that both He and Isaac would go back to their home together and alive.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
Visualize this with me. Put yourself in Abraham’s place. Imagine the pain of binding your very own, placing him on top of an altar with wood. The thought of slaughtering your son and setting ablaze his body must have surely terrified both father and son! But, just as Abraham believed, God would prove faithful.
11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son…15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
That we would model the obedience of Abraham in our lives! Also, what beautiful foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. As I read the text all I could think of was Christ’s giving of Himself on my behalf…and my utter worthlessness making such an occurrence seem so much more meaningful! Thank you, Lord.
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One thing that leaped out at me is the mention that Isaac was the only son. What about Ishmael? Is it because Isaac was the son of the promise?
I think your last sentence is correct.