It Takes A Leap of Faith To Trust In God
Technically Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice
Technically Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice
Part:III
(Abraham & Isaac)
This Part III of - It Takes a Leap of Faith Title - Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice, Technically. This investigation is based on one of the tests The Lord place upon Abraham after the fulfilling His promise to him in receiving a child out of his own bowels. Now After the exile of his literally first born son Ishmael. Abraham only son left in his care Isaac, and Sarah first born (The promise child). Is now requested by God as a burnt offering unto The Lord. This happens to be one of those situations that raises eyebrows, and also questions among the christian readers who studies The Word of God. But in this commentary/devotional the investigating outcome will show that through a serious Leap of Faith, - Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice Technically.
Isaac name means- [He (God) Laughs]. Isaac, the heir of promise. (Gen Chp. 17) Abraham now at the age of one hundred, and Sarah ninety years of age when they brought forth Isaac. The Lord had made a promise to Abraham that Sarah would conceived a child, for she was barren, definitely way past the years of conception. Abraham ninety nine years of age, Sarah eighty nine when The Lord revealed the time she will bring forth her firstborn. The Lord stated to Abraham that Sarah will be a mother of nations for her name use to be Sarai before.
But the Lord change her name to Sarah when he establish a new covenant of circumcision with Abram. His name was changed to Abraham. Gen (17:17) After hearing The Lord announcement Abraham fell down on his face then laughed, and said shall a child be born unto me at an hundred years old? Then later Sarah overheard the promise from the three visitors that visited where they were encamped.
Abraham address them by calling them Lord, for The Lord did in fact visited them. Sarah Laughed when she overheard the announcement and later denied it when Abram ask her. But now (Gen 21:6) Isaac the predestine child, finally made an arrival, so the promise of God has come into manifestation through Sarah's womb. Sarah joyfully confessed (Gen 21:6) and said - God had made me to laugh so that all who hear, will laugh with me. She continues by saying (vs.7) Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? For I have born him a son in his old age.
Abraham named his son Isaac meaning "One Laugh". The promise child, and legal heir to Abraham. His privileges oversees Ishmael, the one born by Sarah's unbelief through Hagar. Now it has come a time when God tested Abraham's faith. The Lord commanded Abraham to bring Isaac his son, his only son, whom He and Sarah conceived together. The child he love most, and prepare Him as a burnt offering. The Lord commanded him to go to the land of Moriah, upon the mountains He will show him when he arrives there. (Gen chap. 22).
Now imagine yourself in the position Abraham was in. What would you have done under these circumstances? Would you have obeyed The Lord? Let's investigate further - The Lord Thy God gave Abraham a son through Sarah at the old age of 100. Sarah beyond the years of conception. This is consider an understatement, since she is 90 years of age. Truly no doubt a miracle brought about through God. Isaac the son that God's covenant with Abraham shall continue (Gen 17:21). The promise seed that the future generations Salvation shall come through. Where all generations shall be bless.
The Lord said His word will not return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11) Was this not the promise of God to Abraham? Now it seems The Lord has changed His mind. The Lord flip the script, and tells Abraham to put his only beloved son on the altar as a burnt offering - as you would put a bullock, a goat, a ram or a (Lamb) knowing the details of preparation, in order to perform the sacrifice. First he will bound the sacrifice, which would be Isaac in this case. Then place the offering upon the altar. Then place his hand upon the head of the sacrifice, and slay it. Then sprinkle the blood upon the altar, Now burn the sacrifice.
The Lord said His word will not return to Him void. (Isaiah 55:11) Was this not the promise of God to Abraham? Now it seems The Lord has changed His mind. The Lord flip the script, and tells Abraham to put his only beloved son on the altar as a burnt offering - as you would put a bullock, a goat, a ram or a (Lamb) knowing the details of preparation, in order to perform the sacrifice. First he will bound the sacrifice, which would be Isaac in this case. Then place the offering upon the altar. Then place his hand upon the head of the sacrifice, and slay it. Then sprinkle the blood upon the altar, Now burn the sacrifice.
This is the order in which a burnt offering is prepare for God. You will find this in the book of Leviticus, (1:4) under The Law of Burnt Offerings. I detail this way, so that you can visualize Yourself in Abraham situation. In the giving of offerings, and tithes The Lord requires us to give to Him our first fruits of Labor. Literally and Technically this is Sarah's first fruit of labor that God made a way for her and Abraham to have. The Word did not express Abraham feelings at this time, but we do know that he did not discuss or share this information with Sarah. Neither did he engaged in a discussion about it with anyone.
The Word says in (Gen 22:3) That Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass. Then took with him two of his young men and Isaac. They went to where God told him to go. The journey took three days for it says (Gen 22:4) on the third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off. Symbolically and Prophetically this is detailing God's plan for salvation for all humanity. For God gave His only begotten son (John 3:16) as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Also the death, and resurrection of The Lord and Savior (Jesus) The Christ, who later rose up on the third day with all power in His hand. I am sure the things I detailed far as the preparation, the promise, Sarah, and the following through with The Lord's command had to be going through Abraham's mind during his three days journey. Total Obedience, for Abraham obeyed The Lord.
He did not turn to the side, neither did he delay during his journey, nor did he question The Lord's request, for Abraham's faith is strong. I'm sure that Abraham was hoping that The Lord would not have him carry out this task, for (Gen. 22:7) Isaac said unto his father Behold the fire, the wood, but where is the Lamb for a burnt offering? (Little did Isaac know that the ultimate sacrifice for humanity, will come through his seed generations down the line in a similar preparation). Abraham response was -The Lord will provide Himself with a lamb for a burnt offering. Unknowingly He is prophetically stating what is to come. The Altar Abraham laid his only son on, was the Foreshadowing of The Cross our Lord, and Savior was impaled to. The Cross is the alter for the ultimate sacrifice (Jesus) is to be nail upon.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). This is Great Faith for Abraham believe without failing all the way to the to the point when he bound his son, and laid him on the altar that he built himself. He stretched forth his hand with the knife in it to slay his son, and at that moment The Angel of Lord called unto Him from the heavens and said Abraham, Abraham. He answer, here I am, then He said lay not thy hand upon the lad. Neither do anything unto him, for now I know that you fearest God seeing that you have not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. Now when Abraham lifted up his eyes to look, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns.
The Lord had provided him with an offering. Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh which means The Lord will provide. Phisically, Technically and literally Obedience was better than sacrifice in this case. Now it has come to pass that Sarah was 127 years of age and she died in Kirjath the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. Abraham wept and mourn for Sarah (Gen. 25:1,). Later on Abraham took on another wife and her name was Keturah and she bare him six sons and their names were- Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Abraham had eight sons all together when Ishmael and Isaac are included. Abraham handed gifts to the sons of his concubines, then sent them away from Isaac, his son of promise. Concubine – is a secondary wife under the System of Polygamy.
Which is a system not of God's ordained marriage covenant. Concubines were commonly taken from among the purchased of slaves or captives, they could be more easily put away than a wife. Hagar and Keturah were Abraham's concubines. Hagar a slave during the marriage of Abram to Sarai. Presumably Keturah is one of the slaves or captives Abraham had in his possession. He married her after the death of Sarah. Obedience brought forth the way to salvation through our God Almighty who use the seed of Abraham to manifest the Ultimate Sacrifice through The Incarnation of God Himself to present to us the person of the second Trinity Jesus The Christ who died for the sins of humanity.
For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten
Son that who so ever
believed in Him
shall not perish
but receive the
gift
of
Eternal Life
(John 3:16)