Have you ever said yes to something that seemed impossible?
Has God ever challenged you out of your comfort zone? He’s certainly done that with me. Things like God asking me to go up to a stranger to share an encouraging word or give a financial gift that was bigger than I felt comfortable with.
What God has never asked me, though, is to kill someone.😮💨
But God did ask Abraham to do exactly that, and not just anyone, God asked Abraham to kill his only and long-awaited son, Isaac, who was born by a miracle (read the story in Genesis 22).
In Children’s Bibles, Isaac is often depicted as a young boy, cluelessly following his daddy up the mountain and helpless when he was tied to the altar. But Bible scholars estimate that Isaac was around 30 years old when these events took place. Jesus was the same age when He died on the cross as a living sacrifice for our sins.
Isaac was old and strong enough to fight his father and prevent him from tying Isaac up. But instead, he willingly obeyed Abraham's instruction to become the sacrifice. Just like Jesus willingly gave His life on the cross upon His Father’s request (John 10:17-18 and John 18:11).
The point of the story is NOT that God may require us to kill people, or even our children, because I promise you that He would never ask us to do that!!
Rather, as with many stories in the Old Testament, this points to Jesus.
When Isaac asked his father, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide The Lamb for the burnt offering” (Genesis 22:7-8 NIV).Approximately 2000 years later, when John the Baptist sees Jesus for the first time, he exclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you. Willingly, wholeheartedly, and as prophesied over 2000 years earlier.
Isn’t that the most divine thing you’ve ever heard?
