“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. 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?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 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.
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Can you see Abraham’s trembling hand as he takes the wood and places it on his son Isaac? Then suddenly the scene flashes forward to when God the Father permits the Roman soldiers to forcibly place the wooden cross on Jesus’ lacerated back. Then we flashback again to see Abraham’s trembling hand carry the knife that is to pierce his son and cause his blood to flow. Then in an instant we are brought back to calvary as the Father sovereignly allows His Son to be pierced by the spear of a Roman soldier, causing His blood to flow. Again, we return to see Abraham’s other hand hold the fire that is to consume Isaac, when once more, we flash back to calvary to see the Father painfully let the fire of our sin consume His beloved Son, Jesus. Now we pause to notice that the text emphasizes twice that the two of them went together, which seems to reveal their united resolve. Then it dawns on us that though Abraham arranged the place of sacrifice, his son, who is most likely 20 years old at this point and could have easily pushed his old father in order to escape, was just as much submitted to this as his father was. His father’s faith in Yahweh had become his own and he willingly submitted to becoming the sacrifice! This brings us to the 2nd thing we discover. As father’s, we disciple our children into followers of Jesus, when we…
MODEL FAITHFUL SUBMISSION,
UNTIL IT’S THEIR OWN.
Gospel recording artist Karen Clarke Sheard came out with her live debut solo album “Finally Karen” in the mid 90s. I loved the album so much that I bought the video. In it there was an interview where she talked about her mother, who also was a well known gospel singer, and how she watched her mother use her gift to bring people to Jesus. When Karen’s mother discovered that she also had the gift of singing, she would encourage her and give her many opportunities to use her gift. Then in a later part of the recording Karen does a song with, her then little daughter, Kierra Sheard. Now if you’re not familiar with Karen Clarke, she is well known for her high soprano range, riffs and runs that leave you spellbound. In the song, she would sing a part and then her daughter Kierra would sing the same part, mimicking her every riff and run exactly. By the time the song was over, everyone was on their feet giving a standing ovation and you just knew that you needed to look out for her daughter Kierra in the near future. Well, today Kierra Sheard is one of the top gospel recording artists of our time, with an incredible voice and a ministry that brings many people to Christ. She is now the 3rd generation in a legacy of gospel singers, because her mother and grandmother modeled before their children, faithful submission to Jesus in using their gifts until it became her own.
Abraham’s complete faith and submission to Yahweh had become Isaac’s, as is beautifully captured in Patriarchs and Prophets where the inspired author says,
“… Isaac had been trained from childhood to ready, trusting obedience, and as the purpose of God was opened before him, he yielded a willing submission. He was a sharer in Abraham’s faith, and he felt that he was honored in being called to give his life as an offering to God. He tenderly seeks to lighten the father’s grief, and encourages his nerveless hands to bind the cords that confine him to the altar.”
Can you see the tears welling up in Abraham’s eyes as he bound his beloved son Isaac, just as the Father would be stirred to deep emotion as He would watch and allow Jesus to be bound by the Roman soldiers. The two of them must have wept as they said their parting words and final I love you’s as they embraced each other for the last time. Then Abraham slowly laid Isaac on the altar, on top of the wood, just as the Father would sovereignly allow Jesus to be laid on a wooden cross. You see, Abraham would not have gone through with this if he didn’t have faith in the character of Yahweh and modeled it in his life to the point that it become Isaac’s faith.
You cannot force your children to love and follow Jesus, and engage in the mission of His church. You will only push them away from Him if you do that. You first have to model it. You see, knowing Jesus is contagious! When you truly know Him, it’s attractive and it begins to draw their hearts. Invite them to join you in knowing and serving Him. Let them see the joy you have knowing and following Him until they own it for themselves as their own!
Now God is about to powerfully impress something deeply in Abraham and Isaac’s mind starting in verse 10, that as we disciple our children, needs to be firmly planted in our minds and theirs…
CJ Cousins
Follower of Jesus, Husband, Father, Associate Pastor for Younger Generations at Vienna SDA Church