Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Genesis 22 - The Sacrifice

This year I decided to start reading the Bible from the beginning. The last time I did that I was a kid and I wanted to win a prize. I really didn't get anything out of it though because GOD didn't mean anything to me. Now however, it's a whole different story. GOD has changed my life and I need to read how HE worked in the lives of all the people in the whole Bible not just the New Testament. It's kind of a slow read for me because I like to read the study notes too. What I have found so far is...all the Bible stories I heard as a kid have a lot more in them than I ever thought. Maybe I just didn't listen, or read, very carefully back then! So here is one thing that really stuck out to me so far. Actually two things...

Abraham was a man of great faith. I must have heard at least 100 times how GOD told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. It always amazed me how Abraham didn't even argue with GOD. He just got up the next day, saddled up the donkey, got a couple servants and his son Isaac, chopped some wood for the fire, then set out for the place GOD told him to go. Now, had it been me, GOD would have had an argument on HIS hands. But, old Abraham he had faith. He knew GOD would supply another sacrifice. The part I never heard before was this...verse 5 in the story.

5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

This is out of The New Living Translation but I looked it up in a few others and they all say this..."we" will come right back. That's the part I never heard before. Isn't that just soooo cool?!!! Abraham knew...beyond the shadow of "any" doubt...that the LORD was going to supply another sacrifice. Abraham had faith...amazing faith...what I call a "great faith"! But, can you imagine being his son? Now it doesn't say, but I bet that Isaac was a bit scared. After all, he was just a kid. He said to Abraham...

7b“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 

I believe that Abraham didn't even hesitate when he answered him and said...

8a“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,”

But, when they got to the place GOD had told him to go, Abraham built the alter, placed the wood on it that Isaac had to carry, then tied him up and placed him on the alter on top of the wood. Not only was Isaac going to be the sacrifice but he had to carry the wood he was going to be sacrificed on. Hmmm...just like JESUS had to carry HIS own cross that HE was going to be sacrificed on for us! That was something else that jumped out at me! Then what happens next is amazing...

10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
   “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Not only does this passage show the great faith of Abraham but also it's like reading about the sacrifice of JESUS...GOD'S only SON.

As a kid...and even as an adult before I was saved...I never got any of this! Isn't it amazing how your eyes...and ears...are opened once you give your heart to JESUS?! I'm glad I listened and started reading from the beginning. I'm thinking GOD has a lot for me to learn this year.





Linking up with Tracy today for Winsome Wednesday!




17 comments:

Nancy said...

I think He has a lot for all of us to learn....That is why I like to call it a journey because every day is different and new and full of adventures once you give your heart to Jesus....

This is a wonderful post and I am inspired by your insights....

Sheri @ Humbled Living said...

It's amazing the revelations we get from reading God's Word over and over. I see things in scripture that I had never considered before and it has opened up so much more meaning to me to help apply to my life. Yes, Abraham had great faith! Thank you for sharing your insight on your Bible time.

Anonymous said...

Hi Chelle - I love reading things in the bible again and getting something new out of it. one of the reasons I get a new bible is to start marking (highlighting) it all up again. Thanks for linking up my friend. I appreciate it and it would not be the same without you.
God bless
Tracy

Ms. Kathleen said...

Wonderful devotion... God is so faithful :)

Kandi said...

Chelle,

I love how God opens our eyes when we open our hearts to Him. You made some great revelations in this post that I never thought of before. Even though I could read a particular scripture dozens of times I am still always discovering new things. I love the story of Abraham and Isaac because it such a display of Abraham's faith and trust in the Lord.

Blessings to you Chelle.

Maryann said...

I love how each time you read the Word God will show you something different. You can read the same passages over and over again and it can still be fresh

Reformed rebel said...

Hi Nancy. I so agree with you, this is definitely a journey. A journey I am so happy to be on!! Thanks for coming by. I look forward to hearing more and reading more from you.
Blessings...Chelle

Reformed rebel said...

Hi Sheri, nice to meet you. It seems that I am seeing more and more I had never seen before. GOD is opening my eyes! Blessings...Chelle

Reformed rebel said...

Hi Tracy, I love doing the highlighting also. Thanks for coming by, it means a lot to me! You mean a lot to me! Blessings...Chelle

Reformed rebel said...

Thanks Kathleen...HE certainly is. More than I ever imagined HE would be!

Reformed rebel said...
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Reformed rebel said...

Hi Kandi, nice to see you! He is opening my eyes more and more. It's amazing how new things just sort of jump out at you! Blessings...Chelle

Reformed rebel said...

Hi Maryann...I totally agree with you1 I love how GOD works! Blessings...Chelle

Ken said...

Hi Chelle,
Awesome post! You are right, Abraham knew God would provide a sacrifice. This is such an awesome picture of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. I never understood why God tested Abraham like this before I was saved. It is so awesome how God opens our eyes to things like that after we are saved.

BTW, Isaac carrying the wood also never stood out to me. Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Ken

Reformed rebel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kristin Bridgman said...

This is so awesome. Love hearing your enthusiasm and seeing what God is showing you. It's exciting!!!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

wow...reading the bible from the beginning. I think that's a great idea. And that story with Abraham shows everything you said and reminds me that God sometimes calls us to do really tough stuff but never more than we are able.