One of my favorite old testament passages is in Genesis 22 when Abraham is taking Isaac up to Mount Moriah upon God's instruction. The long awaited son was now to be a burnt offering sacrifice. Still, Abraham obeys the Lord.
This passage strikes something deep in my core. How could a parent follow such a horrible instruction? How did he trust God at that point? Yet, somehow, he did.
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” -Genesis 22:2
Imagine Isaac doing as kids do... they repeat themselves when stuck on a thought. "Dad... we forgot the lamb. Dad, what about the lamb? Why didn't you bring the lamb? Dad.... Dad... Dad!
Abraham must have had giant, painful knots in his stomach. Trust and obedience must have created deep anguish within him, but he didn't waiver. He kept climbing the mountain in obedience.
When it came time to tie Isaac down, there must have been tears and fears, but was still obedient. There is no record that the boy fought or attempted to run. Then the miracle happened. An angel of the Lord appeared and stopped the sacrifice and caught in the thicket was a ram for sacrifice.
“Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son." -Genesis 22:12
Abraham stepped out in faith. God provided for their every need. Provision from His hand.
"Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” -Genesis 22:14
Today, I am grateful for provision.
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