Daily Bible Study

Tweet

Day 25 – Sacrifice Genesis 22:1 Now it happened after these things that God (Elohiym) tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God (Elohiym) told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and they went together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” He said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “My son, God (Elohiym) will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God (Elohiym) had told him. Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and bound Isaac and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel (Malak) of the LORD (Jehovah) called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So, he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now, I know you fear God (Elohiym), since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of the place, (Y@hovah Yireh -Jehovah Jireh) The-LORD (Jehovah)-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of The LORD (Jehovah) it will be provided.” 15 Then the Angel (Malak) of the LORD (Jehovah) called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD (Jehovah), because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son — 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. God’s name: Elohiym – Mighty God Jehovah – Self-Existent, Eternal Malak – Messenger God’s character: Jehovah Jireh – Provider We’ve all been tested in one way or another. It’s how we handle the tests that makes or breaks us. When you come through the testing, you know you achieved something you never did before. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. Elohiym tested Abraham. He told him to sacrifice his only son. It was a test of his obedience and faith. Abraham wasn’t the only person Elohiym tested. He also tested Isaac. Isaac trusted his father when he asked him about the lamb. Abraham told him Elohiym would provide the lamb. When his father bound him and laid him on the wood of altar, wood Isaac carried, he trusted his father. When Abraham lifted his hand with the knife to kill him, Isaac trusted his father. When Isaac heard the Malak tell his father not to kill him, I’m certain he was relieved not to become the sacrifice and heard how his father’s faith saved him from becoming the sacrifice. Besides all that, he knew his father told the servants they would return. He trusted his father. When his father took him off the altar, he saw the lamb. How much faith do you have? When Elohiym tells you to do something, are you ready to obey without question? What about when someone asks you to go with them, but you don’t know where you’re going or what you will be doing, do you have enough faith to go with them? What about when you know part of the plan, but not all of it? Will you go then? Every day, Elohiym tests your faith. It might not seem like it, because the tests don’t seem difficult or impossible. Yet when you put your faith in Elohiym to fulfill His purpose in you, when you trust Him to bring His will into focus in your life, you will see the impossible become possible, the difficult become easy, and you will see Elohiym provide the lamb. Have you taken your three-day journey to Calvary? Have you brought the wood for the altar and everything you need for the sacrifice? What happened when you got there? Elohiym provided the Lamb. When you got to the foot of the cross and saw the Lamb Elohiym provided for the sacrifice, did you feel relief? Did you feel shame because someone took your place, died for your sin? When you saw the blood of the sacrifice pouring from the Lamb’s brow, hands, and feet, did your faith increase or did the guilt and shame of your sin cause you to fall to your knees? What happened at the foot of the cross? Let’s pray: Father, thank you for providing the Lamb for the sacrifice. Increase my faith. Help me to trust You more every day so that when You ask me to do the impossible, You already made the impossible possible. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 12 February 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.