| God used Abraham’s primitive knowledge of God to portray the
intensity of the love and respect relationship between God and godly
people. In Abraham primitive understanding, he did not know that God
ultimately would not have anyone sacrifice the life of his son. For this
reason, God could test Abraham’s love and respect by initialing
commanding him to sacrifice Isaac. |
| |
| Did Abraham shrink back from offering the son he loved so dearly? No
he promptly rose up early in the morning to go to the appointed place,
Mt Moriah. He and Isaac persistently traveled the long journey to the
top of the mountain. |
| |
| There Isaac–old enough to overpower his father–submitted to letting
his father bind him on the crude altar, Abraham had just built. Abraham
raised the knife to plunge it into his son’s heart. But an angel shouted
from heaven “Abraham! Abraham!” … “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” |
| |
| This proved both Abraham’s love for God and his respect for God’s
commandment. To say nothing of the faith that Abraham demonstrated by
believing that God could raise Isaac up from the dead according to
Hebrews 11. Those who disregard God cannot fathom such love and
dedication. |
| |
| Abraham’s act, not only portrayed his love and respect for God, but
also foreshadowed God’s love and respect for humanity in freely offering
His only Son to save the world. In this way, Abraham’s obedience
portrayed the intensity of the love relationship between God and godly
people. |
| |
Yes, the shallow minded and selfish cannot begin to grasp
the depth of such a relationship; nor can they see the purpose.
To try to explain the value of such a relationship to them would
be like casting our pearls before swine. But those who know the
love of God, are inspired to sing “Jesus lover of my soul, let
me to thy bosom fly.” and
“The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell.”
Those who attain to such a relationship with God, experience
what ungodly billionaires would give their riches to receive if
they only knew.
|
| Such people might get a clue, if they were to try to imagine
a love that would cause Abraham and Isaac to mutually submit to
the death of Isaac–and God and His Son to mutually submit to
Jesus’ death on the cross. With such considerations,
self-centered people might begin to comprehend a love far
greater than self-love. And they might want to embrace something
so powerful and expand their horizons. |
|
