#62  Isaac Was No Dummy

 Isaac was no dummy.  Gen. 22:7-10...Isaac said, "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"  Verse :8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together, And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an alter there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the alter upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son."

Isaac loved and trusted his father.  Can you imagine what his thoughts were when his father bound him and laid him on the altar?  Was he fearful?  Was his heart broken? Did he cry out with questions? Did he feel betrayed?  Was trust shattered in that moment?  When he saw the knife raised in Abraham's hand did he focus on the knife or on Abraham's eyes?  Did he squint his eyes shut?  It is a moment that is not defined in detail....we are left to ponder...

Conversely, when Abraham bound his son Isaac, was Abraham's heart breaking with each cord?  Were there tears in his eyes as he prepared to slay his son whom he loved?  Did Abraham feel God let him down when he did not yet see a lamb provided for a burnt offering?  When Abraham placed the knife in his hand and raised his arm was he trembling with emotions raging?  Did part of Abraham die when he raised that knife, knowing his son was about to die? 

Two people, a father and a son, both with broken hearts, one likely feeling betrayed by his father; the other feeling betrayed by God, yet obedience to God was also part of the equation.  Ultimate obedience indeed.  Is God an on time God?  Did God test Abraham's faith to the inth degree?  Did Abraham pass the test?  Does God have a purpose in every trial?  Does God know the end from the beginning?  Does God see the big picture?  

Genesis 22:11-13 "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

Notice:  the ram caught in a thicket by his horns: was behind Abraham.  He did not see the ram, the provision of God, until the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven and told him not to lay his hand upon Isaac.  Abraham had faith, but when  circumstances from his viewpoint, from his perspective appeared to let him down, he did not let God down. He was prepared to follow through with the instruction God gave him.  

Sometimes, in life, when our heart is breaking the most, that is when we are asked to do the most difficult thing...we can not do it without the grace of God.  We can not do it without hearing the voice of the Lord.  We can not do it without faith.  We can...do all things through Christ.  

Do you think Abraham thought God was a bit late with His provision?  Do you think Abraham learned that sometimes God does things last minute...yet He is never late?  Do you think Abraham and Isaac....both had opportunity for their faith to grow?  

What was Isaac thinking when Abraham loosed him from the altar?

Did they embrace each other joyfully?  Was Isaac slow to reach out after feeling he had been betrayed? Did Abraham wonder if Isaac would lash out at him in anger?  Could trust be restored? Would trust be restored?  

After pondering over Abraham and Isaac's scenario, it helps me to trust God when circumstances appear to be at a standstill.  I know that I know that sometime, somehow, somewhere... God will intervene on my behalf.  It may be that the answer is right behind me, as it was for Abraham, but there will be an answer.  God is no respecter of persons.  I remind myself of this often.  It is part of how I encourage myself in the Lord.  He rules.  Not circumstances.  My faith and trust is in Him so with peace in my heart as my umpire, I stay steady and unwavering like a tall palm tree that remains fixed; not uprooted in the storms of life.  My God can not fail.  He does not change, thankfully.  

The Word of God, the Bible, has the answer to every problem we face.  I pray these words you just read will help you be encouraged in your present situation because God has answers for you in His Word.  Just as Isaac was no dummy, keep the Word of God in you, and you too will not be a dummy.  The same God will see you through every trial too....successfully!      

P.S.  I looked up definition of the word 'dummy':  An imitation of a real or original object, intended to be used as a practical substitute. WOW.  Jesus was led as a lamb to the slaughter yet he opened not his mouth.  There is no end to this... dig for revelation.  I am too. Praise the Lord!