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The Entire Story of the Bible is About Jesus, Part 5 :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR10

Genesis 22:6-14

“So, Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.

10 “And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, 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.’

13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Once again, we are looking for Jesus in the Old Testament. We have explored Melchizedek in Genesis 14; we looked at the Man who came to visit Abraham, and then judged Sodom in Genesis 18-19, and on we can go.

Today, we will look at one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the Old Testament, and in it, we will find Jesus written into the very core of the story.

Abraham has a son from his own loins, his own blood, and his name is Isaac. He is now a young man. If you recall, Abraham and Sarah had Issac when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. The young man was now a teenager or more likely in his early 20s. He is growing well, healthy, and God’s promise is secure.

In Genesis 22:2, God calls Abraham to go and sacrifice his son; specifically, he is called ‘his only son,’ the son of the Promise. Then He said, ‘Take now 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 of which I shall tell you.’” Normally, this kind of request may have shaken a younger and untried Abraham. But God had brought him through some things; God had demonstrated His faithfulness and His ability to prevail out of nothing if need be. In the New Testament, we see Abraham’s attitude in the whole matter:

Hebrews 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”

Abraham knew in his heart that God CANNOT break a promise and that if needed, God would raise up Isaac from the dead. Why? Because Isaac was the son of the promise, not another son. It is not that he and Sarah could have another son, NO! God would raise up this promised son from the dead if need be. Abraham had seen some things in his 100+ years, and he had confidence in God’s ability. So, off they go, Abraham, a few servants, and his son, Isaac. They come to Mount Moriah, which is the future site of Solomon’s Temple, and this is confirmed in history. Jewish tradition confirms this, as well; the Bible calls this place ‘the mount of the Lord.’ This is Jerusalem for sure. This is the place where Solomon built the Temple.

Abraham, in full confidence of the Lord’s ability to raise the dead, took Isaac, his ONLY son, and began the process of sacrificing him. Isaac notes to his father that they have just about everything that is needed to do a sacrifice except the lamb. When confronted with this dilemma, Abraham issues a dual prophetic statement for us to consider: verse 8, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”

So, in the immediate, Abraham believed that God would provide a substitute for his son, and then we know that this is a prophecy about the coming Son of God, who would be our final sacrifice. God will provide Himself a sacrifice. In verses 11-14, God sends a substitute, and Isaac is spared. Abraham calls the place, ‘The Lord Will Provide,’ and indeed it is in this place that the Lord provides the whole world with a Savior, Christ the Lord.

Then, in verse 15 and on, the Angel of the Lord, also called Lord in the same verse, says “by Myself I have sworn,” referring back to Genesis 15 and the covenant there, that there is a confirmed blessing on Abraham:

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’ 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.”

What are we to learn from this passage?

First, who or what is your God? Is there someone or something that you put ahead of God? Abraham was willing to do whatever it took to obey God, even to sacrifice his ONLY son.

Second, do you and I truly trust God? Do we trust that God cannot lie to, cheat on, or defraud us ever? Do we truly believe that God can keep His promises? Have we raised our kids to trust God like we do?

Are you saved? Have you submitted yourself to God’s sacrificial gift on our part? Can you see how God had one plan, one way, one means of redemption from the very beginning?

Jesus is the entire story of the Bible. He is the thesis, the hero, the body, and the end of the story.

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
70 Victoria Street, Elora, Ontario

Wood, Hay or Straw: The Burning Question :: By Dave Hubley

Published on: by RR10

This article is dedicated to Trisha, our much beloved sister-in-Christ, who makes her “Lams” (handmade, Christian-themed, laminated bookmarks). As she is able, she is building with gold, silver and precious stones. She is still “in the fight.”

(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life. There is a way to have peace and to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion, and it is in Him.)

I am in hopes that my fellow believers, having received Salvation by Grace through Faith, will read this article and accept it in the spirit with which it is intended, that is, speaking the Truth in love in all humility. Please understand that it is addressed to me as well.

As we, by all indications, are moving toward the end of the Church age, the age of Grace, I feel led to appeal to my sisters and brothers in Christ that there could be no better time than now to take a sober look at the command we received by the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul:

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

I write this in large part because of my understanding that the prophecies included by God in His Word were placed there for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is to serve as a strong incentive to serve the Lord in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

“While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Emphasis added.

World events indicate that the “daytime” the Lord referenced may be about to end.

We know that we are not subject to the judgments that the Lord intends to execute on those who reject Jesus, as He declared to us in the final book of His written Word:

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10). Emphasis added.

Our “dwelling place” is where we long to be forever. I think the CSB says it best:

“Lord, I love the place where you dwell, where your glory resides” (Psalm 26:8).

Instead, we will be subject, not to a judgment of Salvation – for Jesus paid the whole price of our sin on the Cross of Calvary – but a judgment based on what we have done with the gifts He gives to His every true follower since receiving Him.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

This “Judgment Seat of Christ” (Bema) is where the receiving of rewards for our service to Him during our earthly lives is evaluated for its merit or lack of it.

“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Emphasis added.

It goes without saying that everyone has their own unique set of life circumstances and opportunities to witness or serve based on that. It also goes without saying that the Lord is well aware of what they are:

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve” (Colossians 3:23-24). Emphasis added.

Some thoughts you might consider.

>Do you read your Bible every day?

>Do you pray without ceasing? (Everyone can be a prayer warrior, and there is no shortage of people and things to pray for or about.)

>Do you “switch off” for 6 days when you leave Church?

>Is it possible that you may find yourself drifting away from God’s Word because of the never-ending exposure to propaganda voiced by the world of wealth and prosperity, or about America entering into a “Golden Age” (a false sense of safety and security), despite what God has clearly commanded in Isaiah 2:22, and what God’s prophecies declare relative to the final state of human governance in the Book of Revelation?

>Do you witness whenever an opportunity is put before you? Have you “chickened out” and failed to do so? I have, and I am ashamed when I do, but I ask for forgiveness and redouble my efforts, paying heed to God’s Mercy and trusting His Word:

“For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up” (Proverbs 24:16).

Note: You and I are righteous in God’s eyes only because of Jesus our Lord.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24).

>If you are not able to go to Church but have access to a computer or similar device, have you found a good, reliable online site (ex: Turning Point – David Jeremiah / Search The Scriptures – Carl Brogie, etc). There are still many solid, reliable Christian websites. If you are uncertain about one that you find, be a Berean and measure their message against the Word of God. Note: Most churches now stream services online.

>Even saying “God Bless You” to a delivery driver, or to people you meet when you are out and about, is a witness and can make a huge difference in someone’s day. It can open the door to a response, and who knows what might happen. It is the Holy Spirit who opens the door of opportunity and He is waiting for you to join Him!

It isn’t necessary to be “pushy”; be joyful instead. Sometimes people just need to catch a little glimpse of hope, and who knows, they may just join you in it.

One of my greatest joys is finding a sister or brother when doing that. It’s even better than a nice warm cup of tea (and a piece of chocolate cake with vanilla frosting)!

Am I sounding a little foolish? OK, I’m a fool for Christ! Join me! There’s always room for one more.

Note: At one time, I had to sell used cars for a living, so I have experienced rejection in every way you can imagine!! If you experience any resistance or animosity, it is not personal. It is because of your message and its Source. We are not responsible for the results, but only for “planting.”

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and transforms.

The level of your service to the Lord will likely be commensurate with your attitude and desire to serve Him. As you may recall, the widow at the Temple on the Sabbath could give only two mites. A tiny amount. But how did Jesus view it?

“Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4).

While this parable relates to the giving of money, it really equates to sacrifice. Can you give all your spirit has to live on? That is a bank that will never go bankrupt.

Are you willing to give your whole heart in gratitude for what you have in Christ?

If so, I think you will find that your heart, once given to Jesus, is a resource that never runs dry because, when you pray, the Lord has you on auto-refill.

Now to the crux of this article.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Emphasis added.

Satan exploits fear at every opportunity, and it can be intimidating when that happens; but we have been given the full armor of God, as we are told in Ephesians 6:11-17.

It is ever more necessary today as evil grows exponentially, as we have been told will happen in numerous places in God’s Word.

Prophecy, the ultimate proof of God’s Sovereignty and His signature on all scripture, also tells us the “end from the beginning,” as God declares in Isaiah 46:9-10.

“Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

And we know what the end will be because God has made it clear” (Revelation 21:5-7).

When the Church is removed from the earth (Revelation 4:1), the opportunities we get to serve Him will be finished forever.

My sisters and brothers, I urge you to read the promises in the verses above, as well as the rest of God’s Word; put on your armor, and build with gold, silver and precious stones.

Until we’re gone, it is never too late to start in whatever capacity you have.

You can do it because our strength is derived from the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

Maranatha!

The special message I promised you:

For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no real hope or peace in your life.

You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.

It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.

And, what are His terms according to His Word?

  • Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
  • Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
  • That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
  • To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
  • Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
  • To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.

God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.

  • No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
  • No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
  • Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.

If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.

“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).

There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.

The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Pro Salvator Vigilans

To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com