The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Genesis 22:1-8, “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’

2 He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance.

5 Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’

6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So, the two of them walked on together.

7 Isaac spoke to Abraham and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ And he said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’

8 Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So, the two of them walked on together.”

There were multiple trying times in the life of Abraham. It might easily be argued that no one in the Old Testament had more “excitingly colorful” experiences than he. This one, however, was perhaps the most troubling of them all. It was a straight-line directive from the LORD: “Take your son…and offer him as a burnt offering…!” It had to be the most troubling directive he had ever heard. Yes, if you’ve had children, you’ve had “moments.” But just think of how you would have felt had this been ordered of you!

Still, Abraham never quivered – at least, he never displayed it. What’s more, Isaac never suspected that he was the one to become the sacrifice! I’ve heard men say, “Well, had that been my son…!” Yet, what they undoubtedly meant was far, far less than what Abraham was ordered to do.

I am confident that the very place where Abraham offered Isaac is today covered with a golden dome and rests on what we can safely call “Calvary” in the City of Jerusalem. Many years ago, when it was legally allowed, my family and I entered beneath that golden dome and stood on the rocks where Abraham and Isaac once stood. Many orthodox Jews today hold that as the place of Abraham’s sacrifice.

Although the LORD Himself ultimately provided the lamb for Abraham’s sacrifice, He continues to provide for us what we need and what He intends. Always “trust in the LORD…” He never fails!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

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“We will never know that Christ is all we need,

Until He becomes all that we have.” –Corrie ten Boom