Human sacrifice? Cannibalism? No, God's provision.

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog. As you read, I encourage you to add in any reflections or comments you may have.

Blessings and best wishes,
Dr. Will

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Devotions: Ps 72, 119:73-96; Gen 22:1-18; Heb 11:23-31; Jn 6:52-59

May God bless the reign of His Son, the Messiah. May He judge God’s people righteously; may He bring prosperity to the community of saints. May He live forever, and rule all the earth. May His foes fall before Him. May prayer be made for Him continually. May His name endure forever and His fame continue as long as the sun. May all people and all nations bless themselves in His name. And may His glory fill all the earth! Lord, Your hands have fashioned me; give me understanding to learn and apply Your commandments. I know that Your judgments are right, Lord; let Your steadfast love comfort me, and help me to live by Your covenant. Your law is my delight. I long for Your salvation and hope in Your words. All Your commands are sure, and I will not forsake Your precepts. I will never forget the precepts by which You have given me life, my God.

Abraham had lived a long, faithful life when God tested him once again. God called Abraham and said to him, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains I will tell you about.’ So early in the morning, Abraham got up, saddled his donkey, took two young servants and his son Isaac, cut wood for the holocaust, and set out for the place of which God had spoken. On the third day of their journey, Abraham saw the place from afar. He told the young servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.’ Abraham loaded the wood on his son’s back, and took in his own hands the fire and the knife, and they set off together toward Mt. Moriah. Isaac asked his father, ‘I see here the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ Abraham said, ‘God will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And they went on together. When the came to the mount, Abraham built an altar, laid the wood upon it, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Abraham took the knife in hand to slay his son. But YHWH’s angel called him from heaven: ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ Abraham answered, ‘Here am I.’ And the Lord said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him. I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your only son from Me.’ Abraham looked up, and saw a ram, caught by its horns in a nearby thicket. Abraham took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of Isaac. So Abraham called the place YHWH Yireh, ‘The Lord will provide.’ To this day, we say, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’ YHWH’s angel called to Abraham again: ‘I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, because you have done this, and have not withheld your only son. I will indeed bless you and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants all the nations of earth will bless themselves, because you have obeyed My voice.’

Through faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months and did not fear the king’s edict. By faith, Moses when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing instead to share ill-treatment with the people of YHWH rather than the fleeting sinful pleasures of Pharaoh’s household and court. He considered abuse suffered for the Messiah great wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the eternal reward. By faith, Moses left Egypt, not fearing Pharaoh’s rage; Moses endured as one who sees Him Who is invisible. By faith, Moses kept the Passover, and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn did not harm the Israelites. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they tried to do the same, were drowned. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after being encircled seven days. And by faith, Rahab the harlot of Jericho did not perish with the others of the city, because she had given welcome to Joshua’s spies.

The Jews disputed among themselves, arguing over Jesus’ words—‘How can this man give us his own flesh to eat?’ Jesus addressed them again, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, so he who eats Me will live because of Me. This is the Bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate and then died. Whoever eats this Bread will live for ever.’ Jesus said this while teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.