Bible Pathways 01/08/05
January 8
Read Genesis 22 - 24
In Today's Reading:
Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac; God's Covenant renewed; Sarah's death; Rebekah's marriage to Isaac
After 25 years of waiting for the promised son, God said to Abraham: Sarah your wife shall bear you a son . . . you shall call his name Isaac: and I will establish My Covenant with him (Genesis 17:19). It came to pass after these things, that God . . . said to . . . Abraham. . . . Take . . . your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering (22:1-2).
Isaac was a young man when this final test came to Abraham's faith. A burnt offering sacrifice was always to be a male animal, was the best the offerer had, and was to be wholly consumed by fire. It was an expression of dedication to God. Abraham knew that Isaac must live since God had said: I will establish My Covenant with him (17:19); yet, now the command of God was to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Obediently, Abraham rose up . . . and took . . . Isaac his son, and split the wood for the burnt offering . . . and went to the place of which God had told him (22:3). With unquestioned faith in God, Abraham said to his young men, Abide . . . you here . . . I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you (22:5).
On Mount Moriah, Abraham built an altar. When Isaac inquired how they could offer a sacrifice without a sacrificial animal, Abraham responded: My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering (22:8). Abraham's many years of trusting in the Lord gave him faith in God. This is an amazing testimony of how Abraham's faith had grown over the years until he knew that God never makes a mistake and he believed God was able to raise him up, even from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).
Abraham . . . took the knife to slay his son. . . . the Angel of the LORD called to him out of heaven, and said, Abraham. . . . Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing to him: for now I know that you fear God. . . . Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked . . . a ram (male goat) caught in a thicket by its horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead (instead) of his son (Genesis 22:10-13). Through trials and suffering, the Lord develops our faith. God . . . will not suffer (permit) you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape (I Corinthians 10:13).
Christ Revealed:
Through Isaac's willingness to be offered (Genesis 22:7-10).Compare John 10:11-18: Jesus willingly offered His life. I lay down (give up) My life. . . . of Myself.
Word Studies:
22:1 tempt = test, prove; 22:3 clave = split; 22:12 fearest = reverence, unconditionally surrender to; 22:14 Jehovah-jireh = the Lord will provide; 23:17 were made sure = were deeded to; 24:60 seed possess the gate = descendants overcome, or be victorious over.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in memory of Iva Ann McElroy · Government Officials: Rep. Charles Bass (NH), Rep. Richard Pombo (CA), and Gov. Bob Taft (OH) · Country: Greenland (60,000) northeast of Canada · Major languages: Eskimo dialects and Danish · Religious freedom · 98% Protestant; .1% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Pray at all times (Psalm 55:17).
Optional Reading: Matthew 8
Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 5:16
