The LORD Will Provide — Part 1: 03/18/2024

Broadcast

                    The LORD Will Provide - Part 1
                            Genesis 22:1-2
                              03/18/2024


        1    After these things God tested Abraham and said to
             him, ``Abraham!''  And he said, ``Here am I.''
        2    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 of which I shall tell you.''  (ESV)

        This past Sunday, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, is often called
   the ``Sunday of the Passion.''  Traditionally the Gospel is from
   the eighth chapter of John where the rulers of the Temple seek to
   stone Jesus for saying He is the Son of God.  The Old Testament
   lesson is Abraham sacrificing Issac at God's command.

        After these things God tested Abraham and said to him,
        ``Abraham!''  And he said, ``Here am I.''  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 of which I shall
        tell you.''


        How does this Old Testament lesson remind us of the passion
   of Jesus as He was sacrificed for our sins?  There are many
   parallels between Isaac and Jesus.  First, both were the ``only-
   begotten'' son, the legitimate heir of their father.  Second,
   both were innocent of any wrongdoing.  We will see other
   parallels as we discuss this reading.

        From now until Easter the focus of our readings, the focus
   of everything we do in the church, is on the innocent suffering
   and death of Jesus Christ for our redemption from sin, death, and
   the power of the devil.  Jesus is our substitute, the Lamb of God
   who died in our place, taking upon Himself the guilt and eternal
   punishment of our sin.

        May our Lord grant us faith to behold the Son of God who
   take away the sins of the world.  Amen.