Adonai-yireh
“On the mount of the LORD there is vision.” exclaimed Abraham in Genesis 22:14 when God brought his attention to the ram caught in a thicket that would be Isaac’s replacement. The Hebrew writer gives us more insight into Abraham’s thoughts on the sacrifice to be offered. The writer states that Abraham believed God could have raised Isaac from the dead. He also adds that Abraham did indeed receive him back. He was lost but the ram was found to take his place.
In verse 20 of Hebrews 11, Isaac’s faith is mentioned as a blessing to his sons. Isaac’s faith is one of the most underrated aspects of the Genesis 22 story. I grew up thinking that Isaac was a young boy when God commanded Abraham to “slaughter” him. Through recent study, I’ve discovered that the age of Isaac is not universally agreed upon but many believe he was old enough at the time to have fought his father and more than likely overpowered him if he had desired. If this is true, then not only was it Abraham’s faith but Isaac’s that proved a blessing. Isaac lived and therefore passed the covenant to Jacob and its blessings even to Esau (Genesis 33:10-11).
This week in chapel, Mr. Perry Gates made a connection between the previous story in Genesis 22 and the “Rich Young Ruler” story found in the Gospels (Mark 10:17-27). Jesus is asked about how to inherit eternal life and Jesus responds with the several of the ten commandments. The man who posed the question states that he has kept them since his youth. In Mark’s Gospel, it includes the detail that Jesus loved him (v. 21) and shared with him the one thing he lacked. “Go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” In the ESV it says he was “disheartened” by Jesus’ reply and left sorrowful because he had great possessions.
Both of these stories include challenging statements from God. Both of these stories force a choice. God loved Abraham, Isaac and this man who questioned Jesus. God saw opportunity in all three but both stories’ outcomes were determined by the vision or lack thereof to see the eternal “treasures” and God’s trustworthiness. Abraham certainly questioned God on occasions. Sometimes in ways that might make us uncomfortable but he ultimately came back to a trust in God. It was a relationship that grew because Abraham (at that point, Abram) left everything He knew and trusted God to keep his promise. The man in Mark 10, trusted God to modify his behavior to keep God’s commands but didn’t trust Jesus to the point of monetary sacrifice. It is the temptations of all humans to focus more on the current but momentary circumstance rather than the eternal outcome. We are all at a different place in our journey. Maybe this man who questioned Jesus eventually found his way back. We can hope but we also have a lesson to learn from both of these stories. God has provided just as he did for Abraham, Isaac and the man in Mark 10. Are we looking for it, acknowledging and receiving its full blessing in our lives?
We all have aspects of our lives that can be better and we are certainly no different. We work hard to be the best we can be for you, your kids and the Kingdom of God. It is a privilege to minister everyday and we appreciate your patience as we allow God to work on his own timing. Most of all, we appreciate your investment in the eternal outcome of trusting Jesus.
Travis