12 January | EVERYONE
"Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now 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: 1,2
Abraham's journey of developing faith began at the age of seventy-five and never came to an end. When the Lord asked him to sacrifice his son, he was already one hundred years old. There is no age limit to stop learning, growing, and accepting new challenges.
From a human perspective, God's command was absurd. The promise of an offspring had taken a long time to be fulfilled, but when Isaac was already a young boy, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice him. Abraham did not understand. No one could understand it. But people of faith obey God even if His commands appear to be absurd. When Isaac asks his father where the lamb is for the burnt offering, Abraham's answer of faith is, "God will provide" (Genesis 22:8).
During that long and painful walk of obedience, the patriarch somehow felt what God suffered in sacrificing his only begotten son to save humankind. In the dramatic experience of that elderly father, the mystery of the atonement was once again announced. Someone had to die to save the sinner.
What Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary shone in its splendor the moment Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice his son. All was lost. There was no way out, The only future prospect was death, and damnation was a fact. But at that moment the voice of God was heard, saying, "Abraham, do not harm the boy" (cf. 22:12). And a lamb, the symbol of Jesus, appeared under a bush to take Isaac's place and die for him.
Blessed redeeming grace! Eternal love! Sublime mercy! All eternity will not be enough to thank it.
Take Action
Behold with the eyes of faith the trials God allows you to face today. Then you will see beyond them. Put your trust in Jesus, the Lamb of God. He gave everything for your deliverance. Sing "God Will Provide" (if possible, with your family).