Daily Devotions
The Lord Will Provide
Title: The Lord Will Provide
Reading for January 6: Genesis 21-23
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
Genesis 22:13-14
Abraham was called upon to do the unthinkable. Imagine being told by God to offer your son as a sacrifice. What would be going through your head as you made the long three day journey to the mountain? Would you question God's goodness? Would you have second thoughts?
But what did Abraham do? He trusted in God. He got up early the next morning with no delay and he went that long three day journey to Moriah. He didn't hesitate when his son asked him, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Can you imagine how you would feel if your son asked you that question? Abraham didn't evade the question. He didn't apologize to his son for what he was about to do. He confidently replied, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son."
Wow! What faith!
Now, think about this. When Abraham had bound his son and had taken the knife to slay his son, the Lord called on him to stop. A ram was provided as a substitute. And you and I know what that ram truly represented. Because when Jesus cried out to his Father from the garden and then later from the cross itself, no one stayed the hand of God from slaying his only Son.
Wow! What love!
Father, we deserved to die but you freely provided a sacrifice to die in our place, your only Son! Our thanks and praise for your immeasurable grace will never be enough!
