The past week brought to mind the story of Abraham and Isaac.
Beyond the years of childbearing, and without any hope of children, God delivers on His promise and Isaac is born. The joy, of this now older couple, is unimaginable to our human minds.
Isaac – a child of promise. A son to carry on the family name. A reminder of God’s faithfulness to His promises.
Until the night God asks Abraham to ” … 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, NLT).
Scripture does not record Abraham’s response other than to tell us Abraham saddled up his donkey and went – the very next morning.
No delay. No argument. No pleading.
He went.
I’ve wondered – was the journey a quiet one? How did Abraham explain the purpose of the trip to Isaac? How was casual conversation even be possible on the way?
Things must have looked out of order, strange at best, as Isaac finally asked his father, “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” (verse 7, NLT).
Watchman Nee offers this insight:
The only question Isaac is ever said to have asked of his own accord was “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” The answer was categorical: “God will provide.” This is typical of Isaac, whose privilege as heir was simply to receive what was freely bestowed by his Father. He did not have to dig wells; the most required of him was to re-open those his father had dug. Nor indeed had he any say in his own marriage; he was not consulted about the woman, and was not expected to make any efforts to seek her out. Even the tomb in which he was buried had already been purchased by his father.
We too, like Isaac, have been born into a wealthy home. What God our Father has provided for us, we are expected to receive. The God of Isaac is our God, and is not God the Giver?
(from Tables in the Wilderness, January 15th)
This familiar story brought three points:
- Isaac questions. Isaac was not criticized by his father for questioning. In fact, his father answered, pointing him to look to the only One who able to provide. God can handle our questions.
- Abraham releases. Sometimes we are asked to surrender, pushing us beyond our understanding. We can release our hold on the temporal to God.
- God provides perfectly. God knows exactly how to provide for our needs.
Surrender is difficult. Surrendering to the unknown even more so. But we surrender to the One we do know, who does all from a heart that knows what is most beneficial for us.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17, NKJV)
Everything God gives to us is good for He is good. Everything God gives to us is good because they fulfill His purpose in us.
“God will provide.”
Today I am joining … Porch Stories and Tell His Story and Coffee For Your Heart and Woman to Woman and Recharge Wednesday and Writer Wednesday .
I can’t even imagine all that was going through his mind! It’s a relief to see pieces of his humanity, but like most parents I don’t know what I would do. I hope I would trust and obey. I wonder what things, little things, God has called me to sacrifice for Him that I’ve held onto. Compared to Abraham they all seem trivial.
Becky, it is so true. I wonder in holding on to the things God has called us to sacrifice, what did we miss? I am so grateful we get to peek in a bit on these faith heroes & grow.
There is so much commentary on this “story.” Jehovah Jirah – the God who provides. My Jan 14th Quietude focus and one of my favorite names of God. The One that has been so prevalent in my life and will continue to be as I walk in this season of REAPing. xo
I always appreciate the insight the writer of Hebrews gave us (by the Spirit of God) into the mind and heart of Abraham. Otherwise, how would we know that his faith was such that he believed God would raise his son from the dead if needed.
Amazing faith!
Michele, Abraham’s faith looked beyond the present dilemma to the truth that God held all the solutions. Amazing isn’t it?
Abraham and Isaac both #surrender. Abraham certainly learned lessons through the years about God’s provision as he walked with God so that now when God asks the unthinkable, Abraham responds without hesitation.
“We can release our hold on the temporal to God.” Amen!
He will provide, and I want to get to the point in life where that is my assumption!
Sarah, me too. It’s a powerful premise to live from.
I’m studying each day a promise of God and my promise today was found in Malachi 3:10 about God pouring out His blessings from heaven when we give of our tithes. And there’s a particular hope that has been deferred in my life, so your words today, as well as the reminder that God is a generous God from my own reading, are reinforcing that He will provide for me. But just like you’ve indicated here, Joanne, we must hold the blessings in our lives with open hands, while living with expectancy of God’s good gifts as well. Thanks for the shot of encouragement, my friend!
Beth, I love that verse in Malachi as God promises, “there will be enough”. Daily manna. That is what we are promised. Enough for today. May God breathe fresh hope into your soul!
The path of Abraham had to be incredibly hard that day. I couldn’t even imagine the cost of saddling that donkey and calling his son to accompany him. But the faith he shows and his continued teaching his faith to his son…I can only pray that my faith will strengthen to such.
I so agree with you. We can often forget they were as human as we. It is good and necessary to visit these familiar stories.
This is one of my favorite stories, but thinking about it today makes me realize how in their surrender they were truly living rescued. God is faithful, and I am thankful for that. Thanks for linking up at #PorchStories.
Kristin, you have made such a powerful observation. In their surrender, they left ample room for their rescue. Now that is something to think on this afternoon!
Surrender is difficult for me, too. But knowing that God will provide does make it easier. Thanks, Joanne.