Bible Pathway - Jan. 8, 2012

Highlights:

Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac; the Covenant of God renewed; Sarah's death; Rebekah's marriage to Isaac.

After 25 years of waiting for the promised son, God said to Abraham: Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son . . . thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish My Covenant with him (Gen. 17:19). It came to pass after these things, that God . . . said unto . . . Abraham. . . . Take . . . thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering (22:1-2).

Isaac was a young man when Abraham faced this very difficult test of his faith. A burnt offering sacrifice was always to be a male animal, was to be the best the offerer had, and was to be wholly consumed by fire. It was an expression of complete 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 and without hesitation, Abraham rose up . . . and took . . . Isaac his son, and clave (split) the wood for the burnt offering . . . and went unto the place of which God had told him (22:3). With unquestioned faith in God, Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye 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 (Heb. 11:19).

As Abraham . . . took the knife to slay his son. . . . the Angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham. . . . Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God. . . . Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked (saw) . . . a ram (male goat) caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead (instead) of his son (Gen. 22:10-13). Abraham's offering of Isaac on Mount Moriah foreshadowed God the Father offering His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross on that same mount about 2,000 years later. Abraham's prophetic words: God will provide Himself a lamb (22:8) were more fully understood as God provided the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Through trials and suffering, the Lord develops our faith. God . . . will not suffer (permit) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape (I Cor. 10:13).

Thought for Today:

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac. . . . Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead (Heb. 11:17,19).

Christ Revealed:

Through Isaac's submission to his father and his willingness to be offered (Gen. 22:7-10). Jesus willingly offered His life. I lay down (give up) My life. . . . No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself (John 10:11-18).

Word Studies:

22:1 tempt, test, prove; 22:3 clave, split; 22:12 fearest, do reverence, are unconditionally surrendered to; 22:14 Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide; 23:17 were made sure, were deeded; 24:60 seed possess the gate, descendants overcome and be victorious over.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for Bible Pathway Printer: Ambrose Printing Staff, Nashville TN • Government Officials: Rep. Kevin W. Yoder (KS) and Rep. Charles F. Bass (NH) • Country: Mauritius (1 million) 500 miles east of Madagascar • Major languages: English and Creole • Limited religious freedom • 50% Hindu; 27% Roman Catholic; 17% Muslim; 5% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Remember, what is impossible with men is possible with God (Matt. 19:26).

Optional Reading: Matthew 8

Memory Verse for the Week: John 3:15