The Father's Love
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
One of the most gripping texts in the entire Old Testament is recorded in Genesis 22. In that account we read:
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Gen. 22:1-2)
If you’re familiar with the story, you know that Abraham obeys immediately. He takes his son to Mount Moriah where he binds Isaac to a wood altar and prepares to sacrifice him. Only at the last moment does God stay Abraham’s hand and provide a substitute so that the son is saved.
A Foreshadowing
However, this is more than a test. It’s also a foreshadowing.
1800 years later another son came to the region of Mount Moriah. On that mountain, the city of Jerusalem had been built. And on that mountain, another sacrifice was about to be performed.
The parallels between the actions of the two fathers and the two sons are striking:
Abraham brought his son to the place of sacrifice on a donkey.
God’s Son came to the place of sacrifice on a donkey.
Abraham placed the wood of the sacrifice on his son’s shoulder.
God placed the wood of the sacrifice (the cross) on His Son’s shoulder.
Abraham’s son carried the wood up the mountain to the place of sacrifice.
God’s Son carried the wood up the mountain to the place of sacrifice.
Isaac is laid upon the wood and bound to it.
Jesus is laid upon the wood of the cross and bound to it.
In Isaac’s case, the knife of sacrifice is lifted up but stopped and he is spared.
In Jesus’ case, the knife of sacrifice is lifted up but not stopped and He is slain.
But there’s something else that needs to be seen in the Genesis account. It’s a word that appears for the first time in all of Scripture.
That word is “love.” The first mention of love in all the Bible is the love of a father for his son.
The first mention of love in all the Bible is the love of a father for his son.
The New Testament contains many texts that declare the love of God the Father for His Son.
“…and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
“…For the Father loves the Son…” (John 5:20)
“…You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” (John 17:24)
All this love between Father and Son. And yet the Father was willing to lift up the Son of His love and allow the knife of judgment to fall in order to save us from having to face the knife of judgment.
For God so loved…you
What does that reveal? If God offered up the Son of His love to save you, then He must love you with the same love with which He loved Him. Indeed the most famous verse in all the Bible alludes to that: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…”
If God offered up the Son of His love to save you, then He must love you with the same love with which He loved Him.
That being the case, you don’t ever have to wonder how much God loves you or question how far He is willing to go to demonstrate that love to you. The sign is already there as seen in the bloody wood of sacrifice.
You don’t ever have to wonder how much God loves you or question how far He is willing to go to demonstrate that love to you. The sign is already there as seen in the bloody wood of sacrifice.
As much as He loves His only begotten Son…the greatest love in all existence…that’s how great is His amazing love…for you.
PRAYER
Father, I bow in awe at this demonstration of Your love for me. What pain it must have caused You to see your Son slain on Moriah. And yet You were willing to do it so that I wouldn’t have to face the “knife” of judgment. As I ponder that, may I go through my day as a living sacrifice of love for You.
Devotionals for Every Day Disciples is brought to you by our partners.
To support Dave DeSelm Ministries by becoming a partner, CLICK HERE.