The Dagger of Proof
Written on August 29, 2011
“Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Gen 22:12)
Every word and nuance of this tenderness from God to a mere mortal speaks to the very things that hold our life together and give it meaning. We will see.
Such a weird command: to sacrifice the beloved son. But, it was not rare to Abraham’s contemporaries who offered children to gods for financial prosperity in agriculture. But, Abraham’s was not assaging a contrary God, the “weirdness” was this Isaac was God’s very Promise and the Way of fulfilling His own promises. To cut off Isaac from the earth was cutting off the Promise.
How weird, but even more excruciating to the depths of Abraham’s existence. I believe this took Abraham to: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” (Ps 22:14) Step by step he was liquified in the three days to Moriah.
This ultimate surrending act Abraham was offering echoes to the depths of what our souls tell us Jesus deserves: “He is worthy of the total response of my entire being.” Until this pinnacle expression within us returns to our Savior, we are floundering and know we are missing something. Surely, this act of Abraham would fulfill this.
But back to the tenderness: do we understand? No one knows more than God just WHAT He is asking: vs 2 “take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest” vs 12 “thy son, thine only son…” vs 16: “thy son, thine only son.” God STAYED the hand of execution: the raised arm of the glistening dagger that would plunge into this “only son.” Abraham proved something to his God. Have we proved anything to God?
What is the bigger picture? God did NOT stay His own Hand in the execution. It did plunge into the living flesh and sinews of His own son. When He says to Abraham ”Now I know…,” He is voluntarily requiring His own proof to offer us.
Do we see this rare glimpse of Father, broken love heart of God the Almighty? He is holding His Son of the Cross in His own Arms. He carried it out. No staying of the Hand here. Can you hear Him? This IS Love. ”Now, O world, world of My love (Jn 3:16), do you not NOW know. I have not withheld My Son My Only Son?”
Filed in: Lasting Love, Saving Faith.