Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:00 — 9.8MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
Abraham was enjoying his life. There had been peace for a while, and he was probably hoping to live out the rest of his days in peace, but then God called him to a hard test. Go sacrifice your only son. Abraham’s faith was being tested. His love was being tested. Who does he love the most, God or his only son? God identified Isaac in 3 ways, your son, your only son, the one you love. There was no question what God was asking of him.
Abraham suffered in silence on his journey to Mt. Moriah. He made the preparations for a 3-day journey. The number 3 in the Bible means new life and completeness. Jonah was 3 days in the fish’s belly, Samuel was called 3 times, Jesus was in the tomb 3 days.
When Isaac asked where the animal was, Abraham said “God will provide”. And God did provide by sending a substitute. God knew for certain who Abraham’s first love was.
We see Jesus in this story, He was the only begotten Son, he carried His cross and made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Jesus allowed himself to be bound even as Isaac allowed himself to be bound.
What are our idols? What things are dear to us and hard to give up? Replacing God with something else is an idol. Idols are things we can control. We can make our children an idol. Does something cause me to disobey God? What would be the hardest thing in my life to lose? What do I talk the most about?
Abraham was faithful and trusted in his heavenly Father to provide. God uses people to supply needs. Have we sacrificed anything that was very hard to give up?