Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:9-14 NASB
Many of my dreams and aspirations have come to fruition. I still have more that I am hoping to accomplish and experience. The dance, for me, it make sure what I desire is what God desires for me. Laying down what we want upon the altar of God is a difficult process. But, what comes back up from it, are renewed plans, hopes, and dreams conceived in the mind of God Himself that are better than we could have imagined. There is a moment in Abraham’s life where he laid it all on the altar of God. In Isaac were so many of the promises of God and the hopes of Abraham. But, he did it. Out of obedience, he was willing to lay it all down. God, provided a ram as a substitution which was a forerunner of what would happen in that place many years later, when the Lamb of God, would fulfill the ultimate promise to Abraham ‘in you, all people will be blessed’. Jesus’, life, death, and resurrection bless us because our sins have been paid for by the precious blood of the Son of God. We now have life with God here, and the hope of heaven there. Wow! Surely “The Lord Will Provide” promise has been fulfilled!
What dreams are yet ahead in this life? What selfish motives are preventing God’s best?
God, as this day begins- I thank you for Your goodness and love. May I demonstrate some of the faith of Abraham by being obedient to Your voice. Help me with my work today, so that I can accomplish some amazing things for Your glory.
