Abraham is tested by God and what a big one. OK, you know the man was getting to know his new God and learning how to trust him. Twice he lied to kings about Sarah being his wife. God tells Abraham to sacrifice Issac. This is not about Issac, but obedience.....radical obedience.
God is actually teaching Abraham about the gospel before it happens. Note the words, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love." God did this with Jesus
Abraham trusted God for his plan. Note in 22: 5 he says "We will come back to you". Hebrews tells us that Abraham believed that if Issac died, God would raise him from the dead (Hebrews 11:19)....Abraham went from learning to trust God to fully and completely trusting God even if he didn't understand.
Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Issac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us....only God did not spare His only son.
So, I have a question...note in 22: 19....it says that Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba....so....where was Issac?
Sarah dies and Abraham must bury her in land he doesn't own until he buys some from the Hittites.
Issac gets a wife....Abraham doesn't want a pagan woman and sends Eliezer (remember this dude was the one that Abraham asked God if he was going to be the "son" that God promised...a trusted head servant) to find a wife from Abraham's clan. God gave Eliezer that exact sign he was looking for....this shows that Eliezer followed Abraham's faith...Rebekah was very beautiful according to 24:16...(like Issac's mother)...and she gets a NOSE RING....how nice.....apparently it was a cool NOSE RING because she goes to marry Issac.....note that 24: 62 tells us that Issac was living in the Negev (huge desert) so we know he got off that mountain after his little (ha) sacrifice incident somehow...though it doesn't appear that he was living with Abraham......Due to Rebekah, Issac was comforted in his mother's death.
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
After you read, feel free to make a comment or ask a question in the comment box. You can sign up as a follower on the right, or you can sign up by e-mail at the bottom if you would like to follow the whole year. You may also chose to simply read along and make no comments. Whatever you choose. If you fall behind, as most people will do, don't worry...the whole year is here and you can catch up at your own speed. I highly encourage you to stick with it, If you read the Bible, you are going to mine some real jewels and insights.
WHAT A TEST! I cannot imagine taking your child to be sacrificed.....But Abraham completely trusted in God........
ReplyDeleteMy complete idiot guide says that the reason he went back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac is because at that time people did not marry of different faiths or different Gods and the people in the land of Canaan had different Gods. He did not want this but wanted to find him a wife that had faith in his true God. That is pretty cool to me.....