God's Names/Yahweh-Hirsh part nine

Yahweh Yireh

  Genesis 22:1-19

God had instructed Abraham to take his son Issac up to a mountain, build a fire and sacrifice Issac to him. (God) But why would God ask this of Abraham? After all, Abraham was 100 years old when Issac was born. He and his wife Sarah had waited a long time for a child. Why would God want to take him from them?

Abraham might have been angry at the Lord for having to do this. He might have to face an angry Sarah if he did it. Because they were old when he arrived, they were so happy that they named Issac which is the Hebrew word for 'laughter, or he who laughs.'  

The bible does not answer these questions. What we do know, is that Abraham obeyed God without hesitation. He got together wood and a knife and when they got to where God told them to go, Issac asked his father where the lamb was that was to be sacrificed. Abraham said, "God will provide a lamb for himself, the burnt offering." And he built an alter and laid the wood on it. Then he tied Issac up and put him on the wood. Just as he went to raise the knife up to take Issac's life, an angel of the Lord said, "Abraham! Do not do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God since you have not with held your only son from me." Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram that had gotten caught in the thicket by his horns and he got the ram and that is what he sacrificed to God that day. And because of this, Abraham named that place, "The Lord will provide." 

I wonder what went through Issac's mind as he realized there was no lamb. And then that his father was tying him up and putting him on the wood. Did it hit him fully that he was to be the lamb used for the burnt offering? Was he frightened?

One thing that stands out to me in this passage, is that every time God or the angel of the Lord called to Abraham, he immediately answered, "Here am I."

He didn't hesitate to answer the call of God. To be obedient even if it meant his long awaited son was to die. He just did what God asked of him.

And so I ask myself, if God asked me to give up my child to him, could I do it. To be honest I don't know if  I could physically. I have had to turn them over to him spiritually. That has been hard enough.

And yet Abraham was willing to do what God called him to do.  And though he may not ask the same thing from us, he wants us to be obedient to the things that he asks us. When he calls hopefully we will say, "Here I am."

God himself did not require of Abraham that which he was not willing to do himself. He gave his only Son Jesus, as the Supreme Sacrifice.

Yahweh-Yireh Our Lord that provides.

March 6, 2019 Promise: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Thanks for coming today Friends. I am posting this without graphics today and hope I will not have any problems for the blog tomorrow. Please pray for me, if you wold.