“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.” Genesis 22:6-8 NKJV
“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”” Genesis 22:13-14 NKJV
Lord God,
Obedience. Not easy when we are small and can be even harder as an adult if it means it costs us something to do the right thing! Abraham was prepared to obey – and we will never know if He knew You would step in with a miracle. They only had Isaac in old age because of a miracle from You, God. But then . . . You are the life giver God. And You did provide. Such a reflection of the time You provided Your own Son. And went through with it for us. The thorns around His head too.
On the mount it was provided, the offering for our sin, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And I will rejoice and trust and obey. It will not be perfectly, as sin so easily ensnares us (Hebrews 12:1), but I will keep looking to Jesus the perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2). My provider, my Lord and my Saviour. We bring our worship, our gratitude and our all.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Thursday 9th January 2024
Obedience for me springs out of love not rules . . .
All I once held dear, built my life upon,
all this world reveres and wars to own,
all I once thought gain I have counted loss;
spent and worthless now, compared to this.
Knowing you, Jesus, knowing you;
there is no greater thing.
You’re my all, you’re the best,
you’re my joy, my righteousness
and I love you, Lord.
2. Now my heart’s desire is to know you more,
to be found in you and known as yours;
to possess by faith what I could not earn,
all-surpassing gift of righteousness.
3. O to know the power of your risen life
and to know you in your sufferings;
to become like you in your death, my Lord,
so with you to live and never die.
Lyrics: Graham Kendrick