Jesus, the Second Lamb
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield,
Your very great reward.”
But Abram said, “Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” – Genesis 15:1-5
The story of Abraham is filled with ups and downs. It begins with a call from God to leave his pagan lifestyle and move his family to a land God promised him. In faith, Abraham listens and goes. But soon afterwards, Abraham is confronted with obstacles that he fears will keep God’s promise from coming true. A king and a pharaoh each wanted to marry his wife Sarah, he and Sarah became too old to have children, and despite being promised the land of Canaan, the land was not safe to inhabit. So instead of being honest and patient, Abraham took matters into his own hands. Instead of telling the king and the pharaoh that Sarah was his wife, he told them that she was his sister so that his own life might be spared. And instead of waiting for God to fulfill his promise of a child, Sarah gave Abraham her maid servant to bear him a child.
But God’s promises were not fulfilled when Abraham took matters into his own hands. Everything Abraham did to force the hand of God landed him in trouble. Two rulers were mad at him, and his wife hated his son so much that Abraham had to send him away. And when God finally did follow through on His promises, Abraham looked like a fool for not being patient.
But God is good. He made a covenant with Abraham, promising Abraham infinite descendants and a land flowing with milk and honey. And though it didn’t happen as Abraham expected, God is faithful to His word. And in Abraham’s old age, Sarah conceived a son and they called him Isaac, which means “laughter.”
God will provide.
When the promised child Isaac was several years old, God once again spoke to Abraham, but this time with a request: to sacrifice Isaac as an offering to the LORD. In that day, pagan worship was abundant and child sacrifice was common among them. The real test here was whether or not Abraham loved God as much as the pagans loved their idols. Still, this request seems more absurd than anything God had ever before told Abraham. But this time, Abraham was obedient. He built an altar, and tied Isaac to it, just as God had asked. But before Abraham sacrificed his son, an angel appeared with a lamb to sacrifice. So the lamb took Isaac’s place.
Back in the garden, when humanity disobeyed the LORD’s command, a debt was created. To repay it, humanity had to die. But thousands of years after the LORD provided a lamb to save Isaac, God provided another lamb to save all of humanity. This lamb hung on a cross, the sun hidden from his beaten body. Though he had done nothing wrong, he took on the punishment placed on creation, so that every sinner might live. In the night he cried out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” With one final breath he said, “It is finished.” And in the darkest hour, he died.
God is faithful to provide for our every need. He gave Abraham land. He gave Abraham a child. He saved that child from being sacrificed. He saved all of creation from death.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5