Of Sons and Sacrifice - Part 4 (Genesis 21:1–21; 22:1–24)

“So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”” (Genesis 22:14, NIV).

Early the next day Abraham prepared the material and headed with two servants and his boy,Isaac and the traveled more than three days to Mount Moriah. The instructions to the two servants were that they wait there while Abraham and Isaac go worship. “. . . Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,” (Genesis 22:5–6, NIV). 

Then comes the question of all questions, "Father, we have everything for the sacrifice, but where's the sacrifice?"  "God will provide," says the Patriarch.  What a strange event was to occur in the next few moments.  With the altar prepared, Abraham laid his son, bound, on the altar and prepared to sacrifice him.  The ESV says "slaughter" him.

“But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”” (Genesis 22:11–12, NIV)

Abraham passed the test.  He saw the ram caught in the bushes.  God had provided a sacrifice.  Three times in the narrative we are reminded that God Will Provide.  The Hebrew is "Jehovah-jireh (meaning the Lord will see to it thus He will provide)." [1]  "Let it be recorded for the generations to come, 1. That the Lord will see; he will always have his eye upon his people in their straits and distresses, that he may come in with seasonable succour in the critical juncture. 2. That he will be seen, be seen in the mount, in the greatest perplexities of his people. He will not only manifest, but magnify, his wisdom, power, and goodness, in their deliverance." [2]

Father You are Jehovah-Jireh.  The circumstances of Your chosen ones are never beyond Your sight. We are never beyond Your mercy.  Thank you Father that You do not abandon us in our needs.  Today we worship You our God as the One who will always provide -- at the right time, in the right place; and for Your glory.  “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:2–3, NIV). Where can we possibly go that You cannot see or provide help? We rest in You today for all our needs and we worship You with all our hearts.

 

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1. KJV Bible Commentary. 1994 (E. E. Hindson & W. M. Kroll, Ed.) (60). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (53). Peabody: Hendrickson