The ultimate question is this … Can God
really provide what He has promised?
Let’s look at one particular story in the
Bible for our answer. In Genesis 22 we
read about the story of Abraham taking Isaac into the mountains. Here is a modified telling of this story.
Abraham and Sarah were barren for a bunch
of years – well into their nineties, and finally God made a promise to Abraham
that He would bless him with generations of descendants. Low and behold Sarah got pregnant with
Isaac. Isaac was God’s plan for
continuing Abraham’s line, which ultimately led to the birth of Jesus.
Time passed. Isaac grew.
When he was in his early teens God tapped Abraham on the shoulder and
said, “Go into the distant mountains to a
place I will direct you and sacrifice your son Isaac.”
That was pretty simple and direct.
It was a three day hike to the place God
had chosen and off they went. All along
the trail I can only imagine the conversations Abraham was having with himself
mostly, and with God sometimes.
“You
promised to bless my line with generations upon generations, and the beginning
of that line is Isaac, and yet you have commanded me to go and sacrifice him to
you. Why? What are you thinking?”
And on they pressed.
At one point Isaac looked around and
asked, “Father, where is the lamb for the
sacrifice you say God wants us to make?”
And Abraham answered, “Never mind son. God will provide the lamb.”
And on they walked.
On the third day of their journey,
Abraham saw their destination in the distance.
As they got closer he commanded his
fellow travelers to stop and make camp while he and the boy went ahead to make
the sacrifice. He even said, “And we will return.”
WE!
That was faith speaking.
On they went until they came to the place
to which God had directed him. He built
the altar, lay in the firewood and actually placed Isaac on the altar.
Got the picture? Abraham had a promise from God – “Isaac is my plan to bring multiple
generations to your lineage.” Yet God
had commanded that Abraham sacrifice him on an altar in the mountain.
So he tied Isaac down. He bound his hands and feet, and he sharpened
the knife. And as he raised his hand to
strike the deadly blow, a voice from the heavens called out and stopped
him.
The voice said, “I know that you trust God and He has first place in your heart, for
you were willing to sacrifice your only son as God directed.”
Perhaps with a trembling hand and weak
knees Abraham slowly lowered the knife, and as he did, he heard the bleating of
a ram. Its horns were caught in a nearby thicket.
The message came loud and clear. “Because
you have obeyed me, I have provided a substitute sacrifice and I will bless you
with abundant blessings and descendants.”
What is the message that reaches us in
this narrative?
I think it is this. God wants our trust and our obedience.
~Trust that He always knows what is best
for us in every situation
~Obedience that we will follow and obey as we discern
the voice of God.
You see, God provided the lamb for
Abraham that day.
And a few thousand years later He
provided another substitute lamb for us in the form of His own son. Christ became the ultimate sacrifice for us
to provide a way to God’s side for eternity.
This gives me hope today. When I think of this story and all of its
ramifications, I see the hand of God and the wisdom of God at work.
My mind automatically goes to this
thought – God provided for Abraham in the middle of his sacrifice, and if He
can do that, I believe He can reach across the generations today and provide
for our needs as well.
The name for God that we see here is Jehovah
Jireh (translation – God provides).
GOD PROVIDES!
Does God provide?
Yes indeed!
Please watch this:
God Has
Provided the Lamb
The Bill Gaither Trio
Click below for this video
P Michael
Biggs
Offering Hope
Encouragement Inspiration
One Word at a Time
