Gen 22 Isaac on the Altar

Some time later God tested Abraham.

(after seeing blessing, unbelievable epiphanies God needed to send an old man up a rocky barren hill with the dearest of cargo)

He said to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

(Place a comma between "Here" and "I AM" you'll see that I Am that I AM, was looking for Abraham)

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son,

(For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son)

Isaac, whom you love,

(God knew the depth of sacrifice must involve that deep connection of love)

and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

(Moriah means ordained by God.  In truth he is the only one who ordains.  And how do you get ordained? You'll need to experience sacrificial steps toward the altar.)

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants

(Abraham: Man Isaac: Jesus Two servants: The Father and the Spirit)

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.

(God sets the place of worship)

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 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."

(There are some places that you've got to go alone. No one can bleed, perform, save, or accompany you. Notice the "we" We will come back. Faith is believing that resurrection is possible)

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac,

(Forshadowing the walk to golgotha)

and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

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?"

Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

(Trusting the true nature of God.)

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 

(A moment of utter submission. Sometimes faith looks crazy to those who don't know God.)

Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

(What treasures of God are we willing to sacrifice desiring the Giver far above the gift?)

But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"
"Here I am," he replied.

(God takes us to the edge but he will not let us fall.)

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 

(Listen for the bleeting, look for the plan. Never give up hope)

So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Comments

[My Twenty Cents Keeps Moving]

A moment of utter submission. Sometimes faith looks crazy to those who don't know God.

Sometimes faith looks crazy to those who do know God. :)

[matt tullos]

i totally agree. it sometimes goes against all logic, reason andl desire. But there is nothing like the bliss of God's affection.

[john the lesser]

been a while since i came in for a visit

this is a nice piece

love ya, bro

jp