Abram...what a fellow! Most importantly, he has a great friend...that being God the Father! According to the Sacred Scripture, and what Jesus has wanted us to have...above all else... Jesus wanted us to allow God become... our Father... and our friend as well.
In Genesis 22:5, Abram is about to give up Isaac as an offering to his friend, who is our God. Many Bible scholars have written on this event that compare this offering of Isaac to Christ Jesus going to the Cross for each one of us. Here are a few things that are pretty cool:
1. Both Abram and Christ referred to the Father as a friend. (Christ of course makes it perfectly clear God is His Father).
2. Both the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice Christ gave for us was out of obedience to the Father.
3. Both had to carry wood up a hill for their sacrifice.
4. Numerous scholars think the Abram-Isaac sacrifice and the place of the Cross...could have been the very same place.
5. Abraham and Isaac commenced the offering on the 3rd day, Christ Jesus arose...on the 3rd day.
Also, Genesis 22 is a landmark for the introduction of new terms. The word "test" was first written of in verse 1. The word "love" was first used in verse 2. The word "worship" was introduced for the first time in verse 5. The word "obey" also appeared for the first time in verse 18.
Abram brought into this chapter a new "benchmark"; that being to know God as a close friend. I think it was unheard of in Abram's time, and people struggle with this concept today...knowing God as a friend. I don't know of any other religion that puts such as emphasis on this. And Jesus, He has made it possible for us.
Religions of Abram's day right up to our present day has often failed to understand this whole concept...God wanting to be our personal friend. People are willing to give up something, commit to saying prayers for hours, give money, join good causes for all kinds of things, try to live up to good morals....almost anything...except the one thing He really wants from us...our friendship.
It's not that all those other things are of value, but if we think that any of those things will somehow give us "an in" to Heaven or God Himself...we are all missing it. That is the whole reason Jesus came...Heaven can not be earned....we simply have to accept His Plan...and this Plan is centered on Christ Jesus, and the work He did at the Cross.....Ok, back to Abram.
In Genesis 22:5, it goes something like this:
"Abram said to his 2 servants: " You guys need to stay with the donkey while I and the boy go on a little farther, because we need to worship, and then, we'll come back and get both of you."
Ok, I think Abram was giving a major key to knowing his friend God...and that is when he said: "we need to worship". Worship according to Hebrew origin means to "bow down."
So, picture this for a moment. Abram had been obedient since God first mentioned about the sacrifice of Isaac, and as he arrives at the place God has designated, Abram does not mention to God..."Hey, I am here, both Isaac and myself, just like You asked...maybe this will help You to think twice about what You are wanting done here." Instead, as soon as Abram got there with Isaac, he knew he needed to take the time...to worship!...to bow down, to put trust in, and to know his Friend will never disappoint Abram or Isaac.
The thing that strikes me is Abram's trust that "rose to the top" during this major event going on in his life. Abram had grown in faith...and had deepened his friendship with God. Abram knew when He first promised him and Sarah a son...it was impossible due to their age in life...but His friend did it for them...anyway. Now, Isaac is about to be sacrificed...and the same Friend who caused Isaac to arrive in the first place...is the same Friend who will do it...again!
A while back I happen to come up with a prayer before a meal which appealed to me, and it was inspired from the story of the "Road to Emmaus". Anyway, the prayer starts out like this: "Gratefulness...is given to You my King! For, You have done it again!...bringing food for us, from Your very earth!..."
I think in this powerful verse of Scripture in Genesis 22:5, Abram was showing us the value and trust of having God as your friend. It may not always make sense, and you may receive much criticism for trusting in this friendship, or it may seem "all is lost"....just remember....He can...He will...do it again!
"When the Ultimate Child cried: " My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?"....The price was paid...in silence." Edmund Clowney
In Genesis 22:5, Abram is about to give up Isaac as an offering to his friend, who is our God. Many Bible scholars have written on this event that compare this offering of Isaac to Christ Jesus going to the Cross for each one of us. Here are a few things that are pretty cool:
1. Both Abram and Christ referred to the Father as a friend. (Christ of course makes it perfectly clear God is His Father).
2. Both the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice Christ gave for us was out of obedience to the Father.
3. Both had to carry wood up a hill for their sacrifice.
4. Numerous scholars think the Abram-Isaac sacrifice and the place of the Cross...could have been the very same place.
5. Abraham and Isaac commenced the offering on the 3rd day, Christ Jesus arose...on the 3rd day.
Also, Genesis 22 is a landmark for the introduction of new terms. The word "test" was first written of in verse 1. The word "love" was first used in verse 2. The word "worship" was introduced for the first time in verse 5. The word "obey" also appeared for the first time in verse 18.
Abram brought into this chapter a new "benchmark"; that being to know God as a close friend. I think it was unheard of in Abram's time, and people struggle with this concept today...knowing God as a friend. I don't know of any other religion that puts such as emphasis on this. And Jesus, He has made it possible for us.
Religions of Abram's day right up to our present day has often failed to understand this whole concept...God wanting to be our personal friend. People are willing to give up something, commit to saying prayers for hours, give money, join good causes for all kinds of things, try to live up to good morals....almost anything...except the one thing He really wants from us...our friendship.
It's not that all those other things are of value, but if we think that any of those things will somehow give us "an in" to Heaven or God Himself...we are all missing it. That is the whole reason Jesus came...Heaven can not be earned....we simply have to accept His Plan...and this Plan is centered on Christ Jesus, and the work He did at the Cross.....Ok, back to Abram.
In Genesis 22:5, it goes something like this:
"Abram said to his 2 servants: " You guys need to stay with the donkey while I and the boy go on a little farther, because we need to worship, and then, we'll come back and get both of you."
Ok, I think Abram was giving a major key to knowing his friend God...and that is when he said: "we need to worship". Worship according to Hebrew origin means to "bow down."
So, picture this for a moment. Abram had been obedient since God first mentioned about the sacrifice of Isaac, and as he arrives at the place God has designated, Abram does not mention to God..."Hey, I am here, both Isaac and myself, just like You asked...maybe this will help You to think twice about what You are wanting done here." Instead, as soon as Abram got there with Isaac, he knew he needed to take the time...to worship!...to bow down, to put trust in, and to know his Friend will never disappoint Abram or Isaac.
The thing that strikes me is Abram's trust that "rose to the top" during this major event going on in his life. Abram had grown in faith...and had deepened his friendship with God. Abram knew when He first promised him and Sarah a son...it was impossible due to their age in life...but His friend did it for them...anyway. Now, Isaac is about to be sacrificed...and the same Friend who caused Isaac to arrive in the first place...is the same Friend who will do it...again!
A while back I happen to come up with a prayer before a meal which appealed to me, and it was inspired from the story of the "Road to Emmaus". Anyway, the prayer starts out like this: "Gratefulness...is given to You my King! For, You have done it again!...bringing food for us, from Your very earth!..."
I think in this powerful verse of Scripture in Genesis 22:5, Abram was showing us the value and trust of having God as your friend. It may not always make sense, and you may receive much criticism for trusting in this friendship, or it may seem "all is lost"....just remember....He can...He will...do it again!
"When the Ultimate Child cried: " My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?"....The price was paid...in silence." Edmund Clowney
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