The LORD had chosen Abraham to become a nation that would set the example of right living and provide the pathway for salvation and eternal life. From the Garden of Eden, man fell from grace and death entered human life. This was expected and planned for by God. From the foundation of the world, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, was slain; before the creation of man and long before the first sin. Redemption was the foundation of the plan of God. Through mortal life, God began to reproduce Himself in man. We are made in His image. We have intellect and the driving force to procreate and share our lives with others. Only through imperfect flesh could Holy, Righteous, Godly character be developed out of free will. Character so perfect, that like God it would be impossible to sin. Free will is the first vital key; without it, God could only create robots. Man had to have choices. In the garden there were two choices; and they are ever present today. The tree of life which symbolizes God’s way and life; and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which symbolizes the devils way. It is a simple choice in everything that we do; choose the way of love, goodness and giving; or choose the way of hate, evil and get; GIVE or GET.
God chose Abraham because He knew that Abraham would live by giving; trusting so much in the way of giving that nothing would be withheld, not even his most precious son. Here is my own personal perspective: God already knows us before we are put to the test. God knew what Abraham would do, but it was important for Abraham to know what he would do. So God gives Abraham the ultimate test; sacrifice the one thing that is most precious that could not be replaced, his son Isaac.
Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. (2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
In the scheme of things, on a physical level, in a physical family; a physical nation would be birthed. Then, through this physical nation, a spiritual people would develop from it. Like building a house, the corner stone sets the foundation of the building. Jesus Christ is the corner stone of our faith, hope and salvation; our future for eternity; built on the foundation of the prophets, whom Abraham is the first after Noah; and the Apostles, born of Israel as Jews.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
A corner stone must be perfect and perfectly placed. It will determine the length, depth and breadth of a building. If it is crooked; or at the wrong angle; then the building can’t be built. If it is placed in the wrong location, it can prevent the building from being built. Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone; that is to say, God in the flesh. We know that Jesus is the WORD made flesh; the Mighty God.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Please note the underlines above. Each one of these roles or functions is a facet of that perfect corner stone, Christ Jesus, our LORD. Our corner stone came through David who came through Abraham.
Matthew 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Every person in the lineage of Jesus Christ; represents a particular facet of the perfect corner stone, Jesus Christ. In that lineage are Jews as well as Gentiles like, Rahab the Harlot from Jericho and Ruth the Moabite. All array of family circumstances and challenges are also in this lineage; making Jesus Christ, a man for all people who has walked in all of our shoes. He was fully man, yet fully God. Viewing His plan for salvation for all; He is God who has experienced all of our physical infirmities. Choosing the man through whom the Savior would be born started with Abraham; the corner stone of the family and nation
When God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only son; we read of no argument or discussion. Abraham went and did what God had asked. It is my personal belief that God had to physical stop Abraham’s fatal thrust of the knife; that Abraham’s hand was in motion.
Genesis 22:9-12 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. (10) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. (11) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. (12) And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Abraham had been willing to sacrifice his only son, thus aligning his thinking and character with God who gave His only son for all mankind for salvation.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The testing of Abraham’s character was a test that goes beyond Abraham. It was endured and recorded more for us than it was even for Abraham himself; who was proven by it. This account serves as a mirror for each of us. In fact the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 is provided for us as a mirror for us to reflect on our own walk with the LORD.
Hebrews 11:8-12 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: (10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (11) Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Are we looking for and living for that city, whose builder and maker is God? Have we crucified our flesh with Christ in order to walk in the Spirit as Ambassadors for Jesus Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
As ambassadors, we are sojourners in this world; awaiting the ushering in of the Kingdom of God; for which we daily pray; “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done…”
Read the full account of Abraham. Study it frequently. Meditate on what it means to be the friend of God. He is our heritage and our inheritance in Christ Jesus.
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
We will continue our study of God choosing a people as we look at the lives of Abraham’s son Isaac; grandson Jacob whose name was changed to Israel and the children of Israel and how a great grandson becomes a great Governor of Egypt; the story of God delivering the children of Israel through Moses.
Prayer: Loving most merciful Heavenly Father, your plan for man is so awesome. All praise, honor and glory is due to your name only. Thank you for your WORD. Help me to study it and make it a part of my life. Live in me through the Holy Ghost, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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