Tag Archives: abraham and isaac

church, Discipleship Series, General Principles

The Spirit and the Bride

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It is no coincidence that in Abraham’s life Genesis 24 follows Genesis 22.  Ok, I know that sounds obvious but what I mean is in Genesis 22 we have that – how can I say it- astounding act of obedience by Abraham to God’s command to sacrifice his son.  I deal with this in another blog but suffice it to say here that it, of course, is a foreshadow of God the Father going though the death of His own Son on the cross a couple of thousand years later.

Genesis 24 foreshadows God the Father (Abraham) sending the Holy Spirit (his faithful and intimate servant) to get a bride, the Church, (Rebecca) for His Son Jesus (Isaac).

Some points that stand out to me from this story:

  • All the servant’s master’s goods were in his hand, he just took 10 camels and off he went.
  • The servant didn’t even have to tell Rebecca what to do, she knew and did it.
  • The servant did nothing to help Rebecca water 10 thirsty camels.  I wonder how many times she had to run back and forth with water containers while he sat and watched?
  • The wait was worth it for Rebecca though.  She got some pretty cool gifts after she had passed his test.
  • Rebecca had no problem leaving her father’s house and going with this stranger to a land far away that she knew nothing much about.  Talk about trust!

It’s a lovely story with much to teach us about a right response to the Holy Spirit.  Have a read, you are sure to spot other things.

faith, General Principles

Faith

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“If we emphasize faith does that mean we can forget about the law?”  Paul asks at the end of Romans 3. And then he answers himself:  “Of course not!  In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.”

It seems to me that the first 4 chapters of Romans are primarily about sin, law and faith and the relationship between all three. And up to now we have learned that we all sin, that the law doesn’t help but instead just makes the sin more obvious and that faith is somehow the answer to it all. Paul has also introduced the concept of grace/ undeserved favour. In chapter 4 Paul tries to explain faith using Abraham as an example.

First of all it is as well to establish that Abraham was a sinner. He mistrusted God on at least two occasions we know of and put Sarah in a compromised position, he had a child by his wife’s servant – as well as several other liaisons. He also committed murder on several occasions – or at least he was involved in war – and would have killed his own son if God hadn’t stopped him (Genesis 22). By the way, it looks like Sarah had had enough after that incident since we don’t see her with him again until she is dead. You wouldn’t blame her for not wanting to stay with a man who said God told him to kill their son.

But the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Romans 4:3). Abraham, just like us, needed a saviour – a God who forgives sinners. And it was the trusting relationship with God that enabled God to pass on that forgiveness to him. There was no way he could be with God, believing God, and not be forgiven since he couldn’t stand before God’s holiness except in a place of forgiveness.

“Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.  Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin!”  as David says (Psalm 32: 1-2 quoted in Romans 4:7.8).  Another man who needed a saviour.

The death of Jesus looks back as well as forward in its effects.

General Principles, good news, His Story

Abraham and Isaac

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The post below is an attempt to imagine what both Abraham and Isaac were thinking as they went through the ordeal described in Genesis 22.  I also bring out the similarities between the story and that of the death of Jesus Christ at the hands of His Father.

It was a very long trudge up Mt. Moriah as Abraham went to sacrifice his son to his God.  He was thinking about it as he went along.  He knew that it was a common enough thing among the gods of the people’s around him for them to ask for such sacrifices.  But somehow he had hoped it would be different with his One.  And then there was the confusing thing about that promise that through Isaac all his descendants would be named.  If there was one thing certain about the God Abraham served, it was that He kept His promises. “I bet you He is going to raise Isaac from the dead!” thought Abraham to himself.  That encouraged him a bit…. until he thought again about raising that knife….

ImageTrudging along with Isaac beside him.  How was he going to explain this to Sarah?  Hopefully Isaac would come back in one piece and it would be easier.

Isaac was a good lad.  Humble, submitted, meek as a lamb going to the slaughter.  Abraham was an old man, why did he have to go through this?  All his hopes and dreams were tied up in Isaac.  There was no one else like him.  But he had learnt a long time ago not to give into self-pity.

Silent, confused, trusting still, trudging along with Isaac beside him.

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ImageThe wood was heavy.  It was biting into his shoulder as he trudged up the hill. Only a few days earlier he had travelled on a donkey, a foal of a donkey in some style but now their followers had been left behind and it was just him and his father walking.  He saw the fire and the knife…

He asked the question but he knew the answer somehow fitted.  He was the lamb that was led to the slaughter, uncomplaining.  God had indeed provided.  So he submitted silent, still while the altar was prepared, the wood arranged a cross it and the knife was raised.

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 “Abraham! Abraham!”

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Abraham looked down at his son who was in all his heart and all his mind and all his soul and all his strength –himself- and it had come to this!  The angel had said both their names.  So he thought and said: “Here I am”…  “My everything.  Ask me to sacrifice myself it would be easier!”

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God saw the transaction.  Yes, He had made man in His image so it was possible – the Father could slay His Son, this man had demonstrated that.  So infinitely difficult though, so distressing that He didn’t want a creature to have to endure what He as a Creator would, the loss of a son at His own hand.  He saw the intent, that was enough, now He would provide.  There had been times enough when fathers had lost their sons and there would be times again when it would happen, times without number.  He would do the best thing possible so that those who received the Gift would receive again their sons back from the dead, just as Abraham believed he would.