April 2, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 22 (ESV)
After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And 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 they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, 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”… Continue Reading
*If you click “Continue Reading”, you will leave this page and navigate to “bible.com” where you can read the rest of the chapter. Be sure to come back to this page to share what God has revealed to you by commenting below.
Already registered? Click here to log in.
Not registered? Click here (LHCC members only)
I’ve always had a hard time with this story. God tested Abraham and 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” (Genesis 22:2)
What does Abraham do? Does he plead with God for Isaac as he did over Sodom? Would he send his son packing as he did with Hagar and Ishmael? No.
He obeys.
“So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him” (Genesis 22:3)
I realize God was testing him (Genesis 22:1) but Abraham took matters into his own hands in the past many times. For him to arise early in the morning to take his son’s life with his own hands is troubling on so many levels.
Genesis 22:5 stands out as an important verse when Abraham tells his men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” This is a glimpse into Abraham’s faith. He knows all that God promised regarding Isaac but he still obeys God and doesn’t question him.
When I read in Genesis 22:9-10 that Abraham “bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood” and “reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son”, I can’t imagine the terror Isaac must have been experiencing. Until now, I had never considered what Abraham must have been going through himself because I’m too horrified at what Isaac was going through. But I have to wonder in that moment what was he experiencing as he grabbed the knife?
This is certainly one of those times where God’s ways are not my ways.
Thankfully, God provided a sacrifice in the form of a ram caught in the thicket and Abraham named that place, “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14)
This is an obvious foreshadowing of Jesus when the angel of the Lord says, “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.”
Father, help me when I read things in your Word I don’t like. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear when I’m disturbed in my spirit because of what I’ve read. Help me understand where understanding is necessary and help me be at peace when I’m not able to comprehend your ways. Amen.
Amazing faith as Abrahm told his servants that they would come back down the mountain. I wonder if Abraham thought the lamb would be provided or that his son would be resurrected after sacrificing him. Beautiful picture of the Father and the Son and the sacrifice that God carried out for our salvation. Thank you, Lord. ❤️
Reading in Hebrews 2. Struck by Christ’s humanity. He was made flesh to accomplish salvation for us. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Read chapter 22
Read Chapter 23 and 24
read chapter 22