Offered Up

Here’s Abraham’s response to God providing another sacrifice when Abraham was about to slay his own son – the promised heir – to obey God.

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.”

He worshiped.

He named the place where God answered his prayer.

He reaffirmed God as his provider.

What a story!  We have all heard it probably a dozen times.  But have we ever read it in the context of prayer/dialogue with God?

God initiates a convo with Abraham telling him he will have descendants as numerous as the stars. Decades go by and that promise is unfulfilled so Abraham and his wife meddle in God’s plans and mess things up – the maid conceives a son.  Abraham and Sarah lie out of fear.  However, God’s relationship with Abraham is untainted, and his promise still intact.

A son is born, and God initiates another convo with Abraham instructing him to offer that son – the promise – to slay him.  Abraham has walked with God for years now, realized that God is faithful even when man isn’t, and he believed that what God said to do must be done.

He obeys, and the Lord provides what Abraham needs, so that his son – the promise – is spared.

Abraham worships.

What a beautiful picture of a life of prayer/dialogue/relationship with God.