March 6th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Genesis 22:1-19 (NRSV)
God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.

When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The Lord will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided."


The angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice." So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer sheba.

Reflection
So here is the faith of Abraham on display for all to see. His only son, born of Sarah, was to be sacrificed to God. How could a great nation arise from this act? Abraham had faith and hope in God that he could even bring one from death to lead a new nation. Abraham had a hope in the resurrection.

It is through this steadfast belief that we hold that God will keep the covenant. God's promises are good. And God keeps the promise. God not only keeps the promise, God fulfills the promise with Jesus. Jesus becomes Isaac in some way and is the sacrifice for our sin. Jesus rises from the dead so that all may have a resurrection. But we have to have trust and hope to believe in the promise of God that all this is true. We need to believe like Abraham.

We also need to believe like Isaac. We need to be willing to give our life in the hope of the covenant of God. For we know what has been done for us through Jesus life, teaching, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension and we look for his coming again. As Isaacs of this world we can believe in the promise of God.

This was beyond circumcision as a sign. This was a sign of God's love in Jesus. Even in all those years prior to Jesus' birth. Just think of what a sign this is for us today, even in all those years prior to Jesus return. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, I believe in you and your promise. Increase my faith like Abraham and my actions like Isaac and Abraham, that I may bring you glory today... tomorrow... and forever for all you have done. --- Amen