God Provides

And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." (Genesis 22:13-14)

God told Abraham to take his own son and offer him as a burnt offering. God's intention was to test his love and his faith. Did he love God more than his own son? And did he have faith in His promise concerning his descendants? Abraham ascended Mount Moriah in full obedience and faith. His love for his God was greater than his own son! His faith in God was strong!

I was reading this passage in my Bible reading today. As I was reflecting on it I thought of Abraham's love, faith, and sacrifice and God's provision. Abraham loved God more than his own son and was willing to sacrifice him. Would I be able to be so obedient if God put me to that test?
And yet, here we see a picture of how God gave His own Son as a sacrifice too. The ram that God provided in this sacrifice illustrates the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

"' . . . Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" John 1:29.

God loved me enough he gave His Son!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting live." John 3:16

Yahweh Yireh . . . Jehovah Jireh . . . the LORD will see to it.

This Abr’am found: he raised the knife;
God saw, and said, “Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life;
Behold the victim there.
William Cowper (1731-1800)