It is Settled! | A series of lessons from the Bible

by Howell Lasseter


 

Abraham's Faith

At the age of 100, the promised son is born to Abraham. Sarah is 90. The lad, Isaac, grows to be a young man. He is the one that Abraham and Sarah were afraid would not be born. How do you think they feel toward this child?

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here am I.

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Emphasis mine - HL) (Genesis 22:1,2).

One of the most heart wrenching events that could possibly happen to Abraham is now happening. Many of us cannot understand the anguish Abraham is confronted with, knowing this is going to take place. Some reading this will have lost children to death. It is not my desire to cause you pain, but you can know what Abraham must have felt. His promised son; and he, the father whom the son trusted, was going to have to plunge the knife into his beloved son, taking his life; then light the fire that would consume his body. Please read verses 3 through 14 of Genesis 22 now.

We do not desire to speculate on any of the circumstances surrounding this event, but no doubt, Sarah was content and unafraid with her only child with her husband who loved him. She was content that no harm could come to him. But what about the father, Abraham? He cut the wood, probably with Isaac helping him; then they went on their way to the place to which God had instructed Abraham. They traveled one day, then two, and on the third day, the mountain on which this was to take place came into view.

Isaac was given the wood, on which he was to be sacrificed, to carry. Abraham carried the fire and the knife. Here we learn that the son had been with his father before when he had worshipped. Notice: "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" What a troubling question that had to be to Abraham! Abraham knew the answer to that question; yet he still obeyed God. He had every intention to obey God by offering his son as a sacrifice upon that altar. You know the rest of the events that took place that day. But, let us ask ourselves this question. Are we as determined to obey all the commands given by God to us, as was Abraham? God does not require us to offer our child as a sacrifice; in fact, such would be condemned. But He does command us to give ourselves as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). The only way we can do that is to obey every commandment He has given us, just like Abraham did. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).

It is Settled!


 

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