Genesis 22:8-12: a reflection

8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they both went together. 9They came to the place which God had told him of. Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on the wood. 10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son. 11The LORD’s angel called to him out of the sky, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

As Abraham climbs the mountain to offer his son, Isaac asks where the lamb for the offering is; and Abraham answers with words of remarkable faith: God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. He does not know how, but he trusts that God will provide. And at the last moment, as Abraham stretches out his hand, God does provide, staying his hand and supplying a ram in the thicket. Abraham's trust that God would provide was not disappointed; God provided.

Notice Abraham's trust, and God's provision. Abraham did not know how the offering would be provided; the situation seemed to allow no way. But he trusted that God would provide, God will provide the lamb, and went forward in that trust. And God did provide, at the last, supplying what was needed. Abraham's faith looked to God to provide even where he could see no way; and God met that faith with provision. The God Abraham trusted to provide proved himself the God who provides.

That trust, that God will provide, is worth learning, for we face situations where we can see no way, and are tempted to despair rather than trust God to provide. When we cannot see how a need will be met, we can conclude there is no way, and lose heart; but Abraham trusted that God would provide even where he could see no way, and God did. And this points beyond Isaac to the greater Lamb God would provide, Christ, whom he gave for us. When you face a need and can see no way it will be met, do not despair as though there were none; trust, as Abraham trusted, that God will provide, even where you cannot see how. The God who provided the ram for Abraham, and the Lamb, his own Son, for us all, is the God who provides; trust him to provide for you, going forward in faith even where you can see no way, as Abraham went up the mountain trusting that God would provide the lamb, and was not disappointed.

Lord, as Abraham climbed the mountain to offer his son, Isaac asked where the lamb for the offering was; and Abraham answered with words of remarkable faith: God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son. He did not know how, but he trusted that you would provide. And at the last moment, as Abraham stretched out his hand, you did provide, staying his hand and supplying a ram in the thicket. His trust that you would provide was not disappointed. Show me Abraham's trust, and your provision. He did not know how the offering would be provided; the situation seemed to allow no way. But he trusted that you would provide, and went forward in that trust. And you did provide, at the last. His faith looked to you to provide even where he could see no way; and you met that faith with provision. Help me learn that trust, that you will provide, for I face situations where I can see no way, and am tempted to despair rather than trust you. When I cannot see how a need will be met, I can conclude there is no way, and lose heart; but Abraham trusted that you would provide even where he could see no way, and you did. And this points beyond Isaac to the greater Lamb you would provide, Christ, whom you gave for us. When I face a need and can see no way it will be met, keep me from despairing as though there were none; help me trust, as Abraham trusted, that you will provide, Lord, even where I cannot see how. Thank you that you provided the ram for Abraham, and the Lamb, your own Son, for us all.