Scripture:

“‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’

 

‘God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,’ Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

 

‘Yes,’ Abraham replied. ‘Here I am!’

 

‘Don’t lay a hand on the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.’

 

Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the Lord will provide’). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided’.” Genesis 22:7b-14 (NLT)

 

Perspective:

 

Abraham could put his arm around the promise God had been faithful to provide. His son was an answer to prayer and the promise God had given Abraham and Sarah. Along the way, God wanted to see if Abraham’s heart was still in line with His heart. So, He sent him a test so significant that Abraham would have to make the decision if he trusted God with his greatest treasure, Isaac. Isaac began to wonder about the journey up the mountain as well. He knew they were going for a sacrifice but didn’t have an animal to sacrifice to God, as was customary in that day. When Abraham arrived at the specified location on the mountain, they made the necessary preparations, and Isaac willingly obeyed. Then God made a move when it seemed that only Abraham was moving. An angel was sent to intervene, and a ram was caught in some brush. We don’t know how long that ram was stuck, but it’s interesting to consider that long before Abraham arrived in this moment, God was providing for his needs by having this ram in close proximity. But, Abraham had to look up. The change of his focus enabled him to see God’s solution. God’s faithfulness to Abraham only served to confirm the promise once again in Isaac.

 

When God shows himself faithful in our lives by answering prayer, He intends for it to point our hearts back to Him. God walks with us through difficulty and challenge. When God is testing us, He is waiting to see how we will respond. As Abraham was obedient to God’s initial instructions, God redirected him in response to his obedient heart. The good news is that God has not left you alone in a challenge. He is right there with you. He is also working to provide. What do you need God to provide for you? You may not even be able to verbalize it today. You may just need to look up from focusing on your circumstance and see the faithfulness of God before you. Thankfully, God knows what we need even before we can consciously put it into words. Trust His presence to bring provision to fulfill His promise. He can provide a “ram stuck in brush” for you too.

 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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About Hona Amer

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