SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 22
BIBLE VERSES:
“ Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Genesis 22:2)
“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, 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.” (Genesis 22:6-8)
““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. 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.” (Genesis 22:12-14)
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” (Genesis 22:17-18)
ABRAHAM TESTED (vs. 1-19)
God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering for him at one of the mountain in Moriah. Abraham did what God had told him. While on his way, Isaac asked his father: “The fire and wood are here but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? *v. 7). Abraham answered; “God himself will proved the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (v. 8). Upon reaching the place, Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord stopped him. As Abraham looked up, he saw a ram caught by it horns. He took it and sacrificed as a burnt offering instead of his son. He called the place “God will provide” Then the angel of the Lord appeared to Abraham a second time and said: “Because you have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possessions of the cities of their enemies and through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed because you obeyed me” (vs. 15-18). Then Abraham returned to Beersheba and stayed there.
NAHOR’S SONS (vs. 20-24)
Nahor is the brother of Abraham. Micah his wife bore 8 sons : Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Kesed. Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel. His concubine bore him 4 sons: Tebah, Gaham, Tahas and Maacah.
THOUGHTS:
It was the hardest test that Abraham faced when God told him to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering. But Abraham trusted the living God with a living hope. He had experienced resurrection power in his own body so he knew God could do it. Do you have strong faith and hope in God’s mighty power?
Isaac was God’s gift to Abraham. And God told Abraham to sacrifice the gift to him. Abraham loved his son but he loved God more. Abraham rested on God’s promise of many descendants. He obeyed without delay. But God supplied a ram. This proves that “God will provide”. If the gift is more valuable and important than the giver, the gift becomes an idol. Never doubt God’s promised. Rest in His unchanging words.
If we give to God what he asks, he will return to us far more than we can dream of. The spiritual benefits of his blessings outweigh over sacrifices. Trust God to provide your needs.