The Lord Will Provide

Have you ever made a commitment you later regretted? You promised to do something or go somewhere, and when the time came, you felt like my cousin’s little girl when told to apologize for “saying no.”

“I’m sorry for saying ‘YES,’ ” said Alexis. “I want to say ‘No!’ ”

I know that feeling!

Sorry or not, you too had said “Yes” when you wanted to say “NO” … so you marched resolutely toward the dreaded obligation, wishing the whole time there was a way to get out of it without offending anyone, incurring blame, or losing face. We’ve all been there.

Every so often- thanks to nature, a well-timed (but hopefully mild) emergency, or the changing plans of another person, we get the unexpected and welcome “sweet reprieve” that shows up right in the nick of time.  

Today’s lesson ….

Isaac isn’t one of Abraham’s sons. Ishmael’s gone; Isaac is now his “ONLY son.”

If ever there was a time one would want to say “No”…

But Abraham doesn’t. The truth is, we don’t know what he said or if he said anything because, in the very next verse, he’s packing as though it were any “normal” day to go and offer sacrifice to God.

Being one of them, I understand people who have to handle unpleasant tasks as soon as possible. Some tasks however…

I’m afraid I’d have procrastinated forever. Not Abraham.

By the way, this isn’t the first time he’s been urgent in obeying a command I’d have put off. (See “Who’s in Charge Here?”)

They set off walking … 3 days. What must have been playing in the mind of Abraham as he walked along with his son, knowing the task that awaited him and the fate that awaited Isaac?

On the third day, the designated spot comes into view. Abraham sees it in the distance and tells the servants:

Off they go, just the two of them with all they need for making a burnt offering… well, almost all they need:

The answer seemed to satisfy Isaac. And why shouldn’t it? I don’t know which is more touching- the boy’s innocent trust or the father’s bravery in an unimaginable scenario.

If dreading the task ahead wasn’t already enough to undo Abraham, the boy’s vulnerability as he accepted “false assurance” and walked unknowingly toward his own slaughter would have been more than enough to send me over the edge.

But maybe Abraham wasn’t “lying.”

Was he putting on a brave face for his son, or when he said, “God will provide,” did He really expect that He would?

He’d told the servants, “We’ll return to you.” Is that what he had meant?

I can’t help but wonder what was going on in Isaac’s mind all this time and what he was doing. I try not to, to be honest.

If any father ever experienced a more welcome reprieve, I have no idea what it could have been!

Had Abraham anticipated deliverance in some form? Had he walked courageously toward the unfathomable because he was willing to make the sacrifice or because, deep down, he believed he wouldn’t have to?

The scripture leaves no doubt; Abraham was prepared and willing to go through with whatever God required. It’s also clear that, whether he had any hope that God would step in to spare Isaac or not, Abraham had complete trust in God.

No matter what.

Whatever Abraham had expected to happen there, he had the perfect name for that mountain:

The angel called to Abraham a second time with another message from the Lord:

When Abraham didn’t withhold his only son, God provided a sacrifice to take Isaac’s place.

When all of humanity needed a Savior, God didn’t withhold His Son, His Only Son. For Jesus, however, there was no last-minute redemption.

God never asks more from us than He’s already done for us- and so much more.

Abraham and Isaac returned to the waiting servants, just as Abraham had said they would.

Abraham put his trust entirely in God, holding nothing back. God didn’t betray that trust.

He never has. He never does.

Abraham wasn’t the only one blessed because of his faithfulness. It’s easy to forget that my obedience to God (or lack thereof) affects other people.

But it does.

Do you think Abraham could even have imagined how far-reaching would be the magnitude of his obedience? Did he have any idea what a powerful impact his influence would have on other people, starting with his own son?

God didn’t fail Abraham, and Abraham didn’t fail Isaac. Just the opposite.

Through his father’s obedient faith, unwavering commitment, and steady reliance upon the Lord, Isaac experienced firsthand the faithful and mighty power of God.

The Lord Will Provide.

The Lord STILL provides.

Blessings until next time, Kim