He gave Him up for us

Published 7:21 am Saturday, April 7, 2018

By John Warren

 

After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”

And he said, “Here am I.”

He said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the ass; the lad and I will go yonder and worship and come again to you.”

And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together.

And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself a burnt offering, my son.”

So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay is son.

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

And he said, “Here am I.”

He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord will provide; as it is said to this day, on the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Genesis 12:1-14

And on Easter morning God provided a way for us all who follow his son to be lifted up with him. Happy Resurrection Day, Happy Easter!