Journey From Death to Life 4

Hello Everyone,

There is one more way that Isaac’s story is OUR story, and it is this:

MY SALVATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED (Genesis 22:11–14).

Remember, Abraham has bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar.

He has lifted the knife to kill his son.

And then Genesis 22, verses 11–14, says this:

¹¹ But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

¹² “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (NIV)

Close call, right? Can you imagine the relief for Abraham?

 Sure—but once again, put yourself in Isaac’s shoes.

The die was cast.

The knife was raised.

He probably closed his eyes and braced himself.

And then … the angel of the Lord spoke up, told Abraham to hold off, and the next thing you know, a ram appeared, tangled in a bush nearby.

·        A ram.

·        A sacrificial animal.

·        A substitute.

And Isaac was saved.

Do you know that’s your story, too?

You may not be physically bound, hand and foot, but like all of us, you know what it’s like to be tied up in knots.

You know the shackles of sin.

You might even know that the Bible says,

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, NIV).

But your story doesn’t end there, any more than Isaac’s story ended on Mt. Moriah. 

Because just as he did for Isaac, God provided salvation for you…A Substitute A Lamb.

In fact, God provided THAT Lamb on the very same spot where the ram was caught in a thicket, in prophetic fulfillment of the promise,

“On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided” (Genesis 22:14b, NIV).

That’s what John the Baptist meant when he saw Jesus by the Jordan River, and announced to everyone:

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29, NIV).

God provided a Lamb for all of us.

·        For me.

·        For you.

Let me ask you to put yourself in Isaac’s shoes—or sandals—one last time.

Can you picture him climbing down from that altar?

Do you imagine that he casually wiped his brow and said, “Whew! That was close”?

Or do you; imagine that he dropped to his knees in tearful gratitude for the salvation God provided?

Do you, like me, think that’s the kind of response that would be appropriate for you, today?

Do you think you might bow in gratitude and petition also?

Do you think you could pray a simple prayer? I invite you to pray with me now:

 “Lord God, thank you for providing my salvation.

Thank you for the spotless Lamb of God,

who was given to take away the sins of the world.
I confess that I am a sinner, like everyone else here.

I turn to you, and accept Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross

as payment for all the wrong things I’ve done.

I ask you to come into my heart, and take charge of

my life from this moment on, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Now, if you’ve prayed that prayer, the Bible says you have passed from death into life, and will live forever in the love of God in Christ.

And I would love to have the opportunity to meet you and pray with you.

Greater Things Are Still To Come!