The life of Abraham is filled with many examples of faith. One of the outstanding moments demonstrates his view of Jehovah God.
Jehovah asks him to do something that seems unspeakably challenging.
His response? “Abraham rose up early in the morning,”
We don’t read of hesitation or doubt. He goes straight to the place the Lord shows him. When he gets there, his directions to those who went with him demonstrate this view of God.
Remember, God has asked him to do what might be the hardest request God ever asked anyone up to that point.
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:1-2
After a quick journey, he tells them, “Stay here with the stuff while we go yonder to worship, and we will be right back.”
They are climbing up the mountain with all the elements for sacrifice; Isaac did not perceive that he was, in fact, the sacrifice. He asks his father Abraham about it, and the response, again, demonstrates an amazing understanding about Jehovah.
“My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:”
The two of them reach the place, the altar is built, Abraham binds Isaac and places him on the altar. He draws his knife back to sacrifice Isaac, and listen,
“Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”
And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham:” and he said, “Here am I.” And he said, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.”
It is not written in the text, but I know what Abraham thought.
“I knew it!”
Abraham had absolute confidence that something like this would happen. He had no question that something would happen.
“Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead…” Hebrews 11:19
Abraham knew what would have sounded like an unspeakable sacrifice, “Something good is going to come from this.”
I Knew It!
Often, the first confirmation pales in comparison to the ultimate fulfillment.
The initial answer was there before Abraham; there was a ram whose horns had held him there. The provision was in waiting. If you think through the miracles involved in this single part of the miracle, it is awe-inspiring.
“Behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns:”
Wow. I knew it!
“And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”
With the quick response, the lack of delay, and the urgency to obey, Abraham embodies that divine quotient we must allow the Word of God to quicken in us.
Abraham already had a revelation. “This is going to work out.”
However, after this moment, he had a greater revelation.
“In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.” The Provision of God Will Be Seen In the Mountain.
What is even more glorious to consider is, in addition to the ram caught in the thicket, the eventual fulfillment of this prophetic proclamation. Let me tell you something, you will only see a ram in the thicket if you place yourself in the thick of it. You must position yourself in faith for anything to take place. However, look at what we know today that Abraham could only see through a glass darkly?
The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world from where the Ram was seen.
God provided himself as a sacrifice.
Who could have ever imagined that God would manifest Himself in flesh to be crucified by His own people to save those same people from their sins?
However, if you look at all of the Messianic Prophecies and if you could get each person in a room together to reflect on the proclamations of faith they made, I can hear them all saying with emphatic praise, “I knew it!” Praise the Lord! I did not know how, I did not know when… but I knew it!
Yeshua (ישוע) – Derived from “Yehoshua” (יהושע), where “Yeho” is a shortened form of “Yahweh” and “shua” (or “shua” from “yasha”) means “to save” or “salvation.”
Jehovah becomes salvation! That is what the Name of Jesus Means!
Abraham, if he was able to look down from heaven and see the passion of Jesus Christ and all that unfolded, I can see him looking back at all of the rest and all together they proclaim,
Ha ha ha! I Knew It!
What happens next is what the Lord has a way of doing when we will trust him every step of the way.
“And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Friends, Romans, and Countrymen, All of you Saints and Aints,
Write it down, never forget,
What sounds like sacrifice is the preparation for an opportunity to participate in a miracle.
Ha Ha Ha
On this morning meditation, I am filled with Joy and thanksgiving!
I have had those moments where I, with fearful anxiety, obeyed God, to later walk away with a sense of relief, “I knew it!”
This morning, something stirs within me, to declare again,
I know it!!
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott A. Phillips