Abraham's Sacrifice

     I would like to share some thoughts today from the biblical account of Abraham and Isaac found in Genesis 22:1-19. In this account God tests Abraham's faith and obedience by asking him to offer up his son Isaac, the heir promised him by God.

     The first point is found in God's command, Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you (Gen 22:2 NASB). Compare this verse with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

     Abraham was asked to sacrifice the one thing he held most dear, the son whom he had longed and waited for. This was the son of promise, and now he was asked to offer him up to God. Likewise, God offered up His one and only Son Jesus for us. Because of His great love for a sinful, lost world, He was willing for Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Him. 

     Next I see that Abraham took a three day journey and then he saw the mountain in the distance. He asked the men travelling with him to wait while he and the boy went to worship, then they would return (Gen 22:4-5). This is faith. On day one Isaac was as good as dead in Abraham's eyes. He had already determined in his heart to obey God as they set out. Now three days later he says we will worship then return. We read in Hebrews 11:17-19 that Abraham offered up Isaac in faith, believing that God is able to raise the dead. Therefore he received him back as a foreshadowing of the resurrection. Jesus was crucified on our behalf, was buried, then on the third day He arose from the dead and lives forever more. 

     I see God's provision of the perfect sacrifice in the substitution of the ram (Gen 22:13-14). At the last moment the angel of the LORD stops Abraham. He then sees a ram caught in a thicket and offered that up instead, naming that place "The LORD will provide". As for us, there is no one to make sacrifice for our sins. There is absolutely nothing you or I can do to become right with God, except for the atoning sacrifice of the lamb of God, the sinless Savior Jesus Christ. He died to make atonement for our sins against a holy God, and was risen to prove to the world that He is God in the flesh and His sacrifice was perfect, acceptable to the Father. We deserve the death that Jesus died, but He was the substitute for us. Truly the LORD will provide! 

     It is up to us to believe this; to surrender our lives to Jesus by faith, and from here on live only for HIM! He will cleanse us from our sin, change our hearts, and reconcile us to God. 

     

Knowing the Way

Jesus said unto him, "I am the way, and the truth,

and the life; no one comes to the father 

but through Me.

John 14:6 NASB

People everywhere are looking for peace. Eternity looms in the minds of the masses of humanity who will one day stand before God and be judged for their deeds (2 Cor 5:10, Rev 20:12, 22:12). 

Multitudes are counting on their good deeds somehow outweighing their bad deeds on the scales of God's justice. People are going through religious rituals, hoping that God will be pleased by this and allow them entrance into paradise.  In spite of all this effort however, their is no peace, no assurance, no certainty of heaven, in the hearts of countless numbers of searching souls. 

The various religions of the world offer very little in the way of assurance. The Hindu hopes that through cycles of reincarnation he can finally achieve a better life. The Muslim religion teaches that Allah will judge them according to their deeds, so hopefully the good outweighs the bad. Yet there is no concrete assurance of heaven. The Qur'an states in surah 46:9, "I am nothing new among the prophets; what will happen to me and my followers, I do not know; I am only a plain warner."

Mohammed did not have assurance for his own salvation, and that of his followers as well. He does not hold the answer either.

It is Jesus Christ who knows the way to the Father. It is through his atoning sacrifice that we can be made right and have peace with God (Rom 5:1). His death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead vindicated His claim of deity (Rom 1:3-4), and satisfied God's justice (Isaiah 53:5-6). In a world of many false religions He is the absolute truth and way to eternal life!

He will forgive you, cancel your debt of sin, and give you a new life of victory over your sinful past. Won't you surrender to Him today? He whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36)!