Some passages in the Bible are easy to understand, including many of the basic truths about God. But some are harder like God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac and must be understood in light of other Scripture and God’s character. Today’s Old Testament passage is one of those. In our New Testament reading, we’ll see how God can use all things, even Satan and demons to bring about His purposes.
Welcome, to “God’s Word Day by Day” where I blog through the Bible in a Year. I hope you’ll join me every day. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here. This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s post. And … this year you’ll find the daily “Bible in a Year” posts on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both the Soul Survival posts here and the YouTube videos. I hope you’ll sign up. (If you already receive them, no need to sign up again.)
Today’s Readings:
Genesis 21 & 22
Psalm 6.6-10
Proverbs 3.5-6
Matthew 8.18-34
Asking Abraham to Sacrifice His Son
Genesis 21 & 22:
His Trustworthiness When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
These two chapters can be challenging to fully understand. While the truths of God are, on the one hand, so simple a child can understand, parts are so profound that we can spend a lifetime trying to fully understand them (2 Pet. 3.15-16).
As mothers and fathers and sons and daughters, it’s difficult to understand the sending away of one child (Gen. 21.8-14) and the offering up of another as a sacrifice (Gen. 22.1-14). But as our Proverbs reading reminds us:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path (3.5-6).
When we don’t fully understand all the “whys and wherefores” of Scripture, we can still rely on His trustworthiness!
Back to Our Story
Abraham and Sarah finally have the son they were promised, but as with many older siblings, Abraham’s son by Hagar isn’t all too thrilled. Chapter 21:
8 So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. 10 Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” 11 And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
Ishmael was fourteen years older than Isaac and Isaac was probably about three years old when he was weaned. Imagine this seventeen-year-old mocking a three-year-old (Prov. 20.11). But God had a plan and He would use this for good, just as He uses all things for good in our lives (Rom. 8.28).
12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
God’s Promise to Hagar
But God’s mercy was still at work. God had not forgotten His promise to Hagar to protect Ishmael and to make a great nation of him. But it’s often in the “sending out,” the consequences of our sin, that we are brought to the end of ourselves and begin to look to God. Abraham and Hagar would have to trust God’s work in Ishmael’s life. Later we’ll see that God kept His promise to them.
This is true in the lives of our children, too. Yet, we are so prone to try to protect them from the natural consequences of their actions. When we do, we often get in God’s way and slow His work in their lives.
But sending Ismael away wasn’t the only “hard thing” God would ask Abraham to do.
Take Now Your Son …
¹ Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Gen. 22).
The temptation for me with this passage is to take a few lessons from it and not think about it too deeply. The idea of sacrificing your son is just so difficult to comprehend.
But there is so much here for us to learn. First of all, there is Abraham’s quick obedience (“So Abraham rose early in the morning …” Gen. 22.3) and his complete trust in God (“The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you” Gen. 22.5).
Also, God sent him to a place three days’ journey away. Perhaps, so he’d have time to contemplate. But according to Hebrews 11, Abraham was convinced that God would do what He promised:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead … (Heb. 11.17-19).
But imagine what must have been going on in Abraham’s heart as Isaac asked “Where is the sacrifice?” But his response was “God will provide …” (Gen. 22.8).
A Type of Christ
Don’t miss the trust and obedience that Isaac displayed, as well. John MacArthur says that Isaac was probably over twenty years old by now. Here’s his elderly father telling him that he’s the sacrifice. He had to allow himself to be tied up and laid on the altar. Just as Jesus willingly laid down His life, Isaac as a type of Christ must have willingly submitted to his father.
And finally, as Abraham raised the knife, God said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad … for now I know …” (Gen. 22.12). Of course, God knew the end from the beginning, so this was to reveal and strengthen Abraham’s heart.
Of course, there will never be the need for another sacrifice. Jesus was the final and complete sacrifice. So, God will never ask any of us to sacrifice our children literally. But there are often other things in our lives that we hold too closely. Yet, it’s so important to realize that what God offers us is far superior to anything that we might try to hold on to.
What is your Isaac? Is there something you’ve been holding too closely, something God is asking you to put on the altar? A grudge, a relationship, a career, a lifestyle, even a child that you haven’t fully given to God? What blessings are you missing, as a result?
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 6.6-10:
From Tears to Trust
This passage contains a progression that we often see in the Psalms. The psalmist pours out his heart. “I am weary …,” “I drench my couch with my tears,” “my eye wastes away because of grief …” But then refocuses on God and His truth. “For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping,” “the Lord has heard my supplication,” “the Lord will receive my prayer …”
This is one reason the Psalms are such great passages to pray back to God.
Proverbs 3.5-6:
Lean Not on Your Own Understanding
Quoting Proverbs again:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
We are so prone to want to “understand” everything, and though we should study and seek godly wisdom and understanding, ultimately we must put our faith and trust in Him.
If you are finding that hard right now, you might want to check out a post I wrote a couple of months ago, “Are You Struggling to Trust God?”
Matthew 8.18-34:
Exposed Hearts
Verses 28-34 about Jesus’ interaction with the Gergesenes (Gadarenes, NASB) reveals a sad truth about many people.
Jesus had delivered two demon-possessed men from the control of Satan, yet when He allowed the demons to go into a herd of pigs, instead of rejoicing, the people were more concerned about “their swine” than a visitation from their Savior.
Even Satan and his minions are subject to God and He sometimes uses them for His just and holy purposes. In this case, He used these demons to expose the hearts of the people.
It brings to mind a passage from a couple of days ago:
19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6.19-21).
What do you and I treasure? Is it what God treasures or could something else be occupying that place in our hearts?
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll talk about the consequences of favoritism, how we often hide who we really are, the kind of reality and full disclosure that God offers us in the Bible, and ask the question “If we act badly because of hormonal issues, is it biology or sin?”
I hope you’ll join me and, if you haven’t already, take the challenge to read through the Bible with me this year. Even though we may do it imperfectly or miss a day here and there, I find when we set it as a goal, we read far more of God’s Word than we would otherwise. I know we all get far too much email these days but having the daily devotion pop up in your inbox each day can serve as a general reminder to get into God’s Word. It goes out at 6 a.m. MST.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest, and now listen on YouTube. Just click on the social media icons or go to my YouTube channel.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
I recently read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.
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