Yahweh Yireh-Tuesday

There is something special about this story of Abraham and Isaac. One that many don’t see.

Have you been told before that the Old Testament points to the New Testament? That if you look hard enough, you can see where God’s plan for salvation is already in play. From the beginning?

In Genesis 22:2, “Elohim said, Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”

Do these words sound familiar yet?

Let me help.

Mark 1:10-11, “As Yeshua came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you.”

God asked Abraham to take his only son, whom he loved, and offer him as a sacrifice.

There are only two times in scripture where God has asked for a human sacrifice. The first time was with Abraham and Isaac, which he did not accept and stopped. The second, and the only one he accepted, was Jesus on the cross. A sacrifice for us.

In Mark, God voices from heaven that Jesus is His son, whom he loves. In John 3:16, he says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”

God is asking Abraham to be a part of the foreshadowing of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross.

I need a moment for that to set in.

Abraham’s faith had grown to the point that God was asking him to be a part of Jesus’ story. He was asking him to act out something that would take place YEARS later and be written about FOR US to read!

These words in scripture, these Bible stories, aren’t just ink on a page. They are a story of love. They are a history of stories showing how God acted, how he proved his faithfulness to his people, how he shows his grace and mercy, and how he plans to redeem us.

In the moment, Yahweh Yireh provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice for Abraham and Isaac, which told of the future sacrifice that Jesus would make for us on the cross.

Mt. Moriah, where they went to sacrifice Isaac and where Abraham proclaimed Yahweh Yireh, was likely a few hundred yards from Golgotha, where Jesus was sacrificed.

I can only imagine Abraham looking up from where the ram was offered and staring out over the mountainous terrain and lifting his eyes to Golgotha as the smoke still spiraled above and spoke the words, maybe even in a whispered tone, “Yahweh Yireh”.

I love seeing how God is working. I love knowing that he has a plan for me even when I can’t see. I trust in the fact that God will always provide for me even when I can’t fathom how it will happen.

God’s got this. God’s got you. God’s provisions are already in place. Rest in him today.

Have a great day with Jesus!

(I know I posted this morning, but God kept talking to me so I needed to share a little more of what was on my heart.)