Leaves of
Grace
by Dr. Robert G. Smith
Thoughts for those
who, like delightful trees planted by God’s river, produce fruit
from unwithered leaves, living in God’s prosperity (from
EARLY
So Abraham rose early in the morning…and took two of his young men
with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt
offering, and…went to the place…
Gen. 22:3 (NASB).
There wasn’t really any question about what God had said.
His few words were simple.
In just two verses God had instructed Abraham to surrender
that which was surely the dearest to him in all of the world, his
son Isaac. Isaac was
truly a miracle child. God had
prophesied about his birth when Abraham was 75—already well past
social security! God
repeated the prophecy 24 years later.
Abraham was then 99; Sarah was 90.
It’s impossible—but a year later--they were parents!
We do not know just how old Isaac was when God asked Abraham for the
offering. We do know
that he was old enough to travel for three days, old enough to carry
the wood at the last of the journey, and old enough to realize that
a burnt offering required something they didn’t have—a sacrifice.
The account is silent on what surely must have been some of the most
tender parts of the story.
Isaac obviously trusted his father.
Surely Abraham wept during the three-day journey.
We can be sure there were prayers offered and, perhaps,
commitments made and maybe even some offers of substitutes.
Ishmael comes to mind.
However, the most important thing to notice is the Abraham simply
obeys, even though he doesn’t understand.
While we believers read the story with the anticipation of
its wonderful and surprise ending,
Abraham had never read the
story. He was
living it! As I read, I
ponder the account deeply.
Abraham’s obedience is marked by several qualities we need to
replicate in our own lives.
Abraham’s obedience is completely willing, absolutely
complete, and absent of any complaint.
When Abraham leaves his servants for the last part of the journey,
he tells them that he and the boy will go “worship” and come back.
Extremely interesting words!
What God and we call
sacrifice, Abraham calls
worship. While most
of us could hardly imagine the words, Abraham would say that he and
the boy would worship and
return to you.
There’s a remarkable faith displayed here.
Abraham didn’t know
how it was going to happen, but he believed it
would happen.
Why? Because God
had promised. One last
thing. Abraham’s
obedience was “early” – without delay.
May God give us an
early obedience. Is
there anything you need to do—today?
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