I see the image clearly. The aged, old man with a staff in one hand, and the hem of his garment in the other as he ascends the hill. Resolved he sets his gaze upon the summit and trudges on. The wind tosses and tangles his beard and hair while the rocky, sloped terrain bites at his callused feet. Nothing deters him; not even the tearing of his own heart. Step after step he climbs the mount in the early morn,as dawn crowns it's peak with golden splendor.
The tale of Abraham's ascension sparks a bit of terror in me; how upon the hilltop he built an altar to sacrifice his son Isaac unto the Lord. I sometimes wonder if God will symbolically ask the same of me? I am certain, on my own, I could never raise a knife to my son. Yet, each time I sit and ponder this story God illuminates another aspect; the state of Abraham's heart and the value he placed on his relationship with the Lord.
On the surface we see a powerful example of a man obeying the directions of his God. The Lord told Abraham what must be done and Abraham did as instructed. still there are elements of the experience that should speak to us as well.
Abraham did not waiver in his response, he acted. The idea that such a serious request was made of Abraham and he did not tarry in response-hoping for an alternate plan-says he knew the direction came from God. To have the confidence it was God's voice we learn Abraham must have had regular communication with the Lord.
To have fellowship with the Lord one must live righteously. God is not moved to speak if we will not listen, obey or seek relationship with Him. Therefore we can surmise that Abraham lived seeking his Creator and worshiping Him through a life of holy living. This impresses me because Abraham lived righteously without written laws, such as Moses and the Israelites, and without the teachings of Christ or the Holy Spirit. God's ways were somehow impressed upon his heart and his observance encouraged intimacy between them.
Knowledge and understanding of God as Creator we are told was made evident to man in the creation. Still, Abraham's faith would have been anchored in his experience of the Lord. The trust produced through daily dependency no doubt fueled his journey and climb.
But there is more. What of Isaac? When the altar was built and the offering remain hidden from his view...how is it he was bound and laid upon the stone? The bible doesn't grant us access to these details. Yet I believe there can be only two possibilities; Isaac was either weakened physically (knocked out), so his aged father could bind him or he, like Jesus, willingly offered his life in obedience to his father as his own act of worship. (Isaac's father would have been a power daily example of righteousness.) I believe it was the latter. In this case binding Isaac may symbolize the act of binding Abraham and his son's will in submission to the Almighty's.
On the hilltop that day I see two fathers and two sons. Abraham in this story mirrors the role of God and Isaac is cast as Jesus. This is evident to me with the ram suddenly discovered as Abraham raises his knife. The ram's horn is caught in the thicket or thorny shrub...perhaps the first crown of thorns.
Obedience is indeed a lesson in this story. However, I believe the root message is on being a living sacrifice. We are called to offer our lives to the Lord; to live each day in the spirit of sacrifice; dying to self and engaging in the will of the Father. When I read Genesis 22 I witness a life lived to glorify God.
The chapter highlights the concept of worship. Living a life of obedience is an expression of love an act of worship. Again, I note Abraham's eagerness to do as the Lord commanded. He was eager to honor God regardless of his pain. Yes, a sacrifice took place upon the mount but I suggest the real sacrifice in this story was in every step Abraham took to reach and climb the mountain.
I see worship in every act. Abraham took it upon himself, though he had servants, to cut the wood necessary for the burnt offering. Abraham takes out with his son and two servants without knowing where the Lord will lead them. We are told it was three days later that God revealed to Abraham the exact location. Remarkably, Abraham continues his worship by expressing his faith in the Lord's provision to his inquisitive son. Though torn, his purpose remained focused...he would honor God. I believe this is evidence that God's presence in his life was Abraham's greatest joy. What else would motivate a father to endure this journey?
This to me is what Paul was encouraging believers to mirror in Romans; "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship,"(12:1).
God's word tells us "To obey is better than sacrifice,"(1Samuel 15:22).
The Law had many purposes. One of which to teach us the habit of obedience. Stipulations were a plenty in temple worship and sacrifice. The rituals observed there were carried out with hypersensitivity and reverence, yet, it was the worship through obedience that I believe was the pleasure of the Lord.
With every step Abraham took to get nearer to God his Maker was glorified. God knew the surging pain his request had inflicted upon his child. How his heart must have swelled from the faith, hope and love which dwell ed in Abraham's bosom: these prompting him to live each day abandoned to the will of his Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment