The Altar

There are certain times in my life when I have been blown away by how amazing God is to us.

Genesis 22.

God told Abraham to go up into the mountain and build an altar. He and Isaac did just that but Abraham must have had a heavy heart knowing that the Lord had asked him to put his most prized and longed for treasure on the altar as a sacrifice. Now that was Abraham's view. But what about Isaac?

We don't really know the story but I imagine he must have had a lot of faith that if that was the only way, it had to be done. Can you imagine what Isaac felt when the angel appeared? Relief? Joy? Elation? He no longer had to be offered up to the Lord. However, something still needed to be offered because that was a requirement of the Lord. So a ram caught in the thicket nearby was slain and was sacrificed.

We are saved from being killed because there was a sacrifice already offered that was sufficient. The ram was enough. The atonement of Jesus Christ was enough. Because of him, we need not die. He has given us another option. That of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

May we remember the reason for the season and give thanks for the sacrifice of the only begotton of the Father.