And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
(Genesis 22:6-8)
I remember many days as a child walking around Lake Murray with my mom. We would rarely, if ever, walk the trail without bringing something to feed the ducks. We never went empty-handed. I wonder what Isaac felt as he and his father ascended this mountain. Walking on the trail with nothing in hand to sacrifice. I’d suggest that he knew immediately that something was off.
The only recorded dialogue between Abraham and Isaac is this exchange. The first time I read it, my reaction was that Abraham was lying through his teeth to his son that he was about to kill. The more I’ve sat with it, the more I’m inclined to think that Abraham was not lying. He was fully surrendered to the Lord, and he knew God’s character. He knew that no matter what, God would take care of him. Abraham’s life had been evidence of God’s favor and providence. He knew deep in his spirit that the Lord would provide. The beauty of this passage is that the Lord not only provided a sacrifice for Abraham and Isaac in that immediate moment, but the Lord also provided an even better sacrifice on that same mountain thousands of years later.
As Abraham’s “only son,” Isaac carried the wood for the altar on his back up the hill; Christ carried the wood of his cross on that same trail. This awaited son of promise was about to die. Just as the awaited son, the Messiah was destined to.
The truth about this passage is that Abraham witnessed the Lord’s provision right in front of him. Ascribing the name “the Lord will provide” to this mountain was not only reflective but prophetic as well. Abraham caught a glimpse of it, but the fullness of that promise wouldn’t be realized until long after his lifetime.
Friend, hold the promise close. Surrender the need to see it happen.
Kassie Lowe
Young Adults Lead