Scripture Reading: Genesis 22:3
“And Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” (Genesis 22:3)
The Beloved Heavenly Father has a way of dealing with us in the quietness of the night when all those who are around us are fast asleep. Without interruptions, He can get our attention.
When the Lord told Abraham that He was going to inspect Sodom, Abraham interceded on behalf of the city. But when God asked him to offer up his last and “only” son as an offering Abraham was silent. His only response was in deeds.
There are times when the Holy Spirit forbids us to intercede and plead for God to spare us and our loved ones from certain sacrifices which He is calling upon us to make, and it is up to us to know the difference.
Abraham’s response was immediate. He knew that if he did not obey God then, he never would.
If we put off making the sacrifice, we could easily fail in making it altogether. Procrastination gives Satan a chance to work in our hearts and harden them against doing the will of God. Besides, we will be tempted to share our complaints with others who will sympathize with us and give us many “scriptural” reasons why we should disobey the leading of the Lord.
Abraham immediately made preparation for the sacrifice by:
- Saddling his donkey (he did not ask someone else to do it for him).
- Chopping the wood he would use for the burnt offering.
These two tasks were jobs that were usually left to the servant to perform. But he now did them himself.
We are reminded of the two things that Jesus did before He offered up Himself on the cross:
- He rode on the donkey into Jerusalem (the same place where Abraham would go to offer up his son Isaac, and the same mount).
- He carried the wooden stake up Calvary’s hill.
What a beautiful picture Abraham’s willing sacrifice was of the loving Father and His obedient Son.
The Old Testament saints who walked perfect with God were a type of the Lord’s dealings in our lives. And we, who also obey Him and walk in harmony with His will, are a mirror of the Lord — for people can see Jesus in us.
In the Beginning by Gwen Shaw
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