Lent 1, 2012
Genesis 22:1-18
“God Will Provide”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Why me?” We have probably all uttered those words at one point or another when we’ve been hit with a seemingly unbearable trial in our lives. It just doesn’t make sense to us. How could this be happening to me? Why is this happening to me? How am I going to get through this? Do these questions sound familiar? Maybe for some of you it might even be a question of why do bad things happen to good people or why do bad things keep happening to that poor family…neighbor…or friend. When we read our Old Testament Lesson for today we hear of someone that seemingly would be justified in asking of God, “Why me?” That person is Abraham…Patriarch, true believer in the One True God, in the lineage of Christ Jesus.
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:1-2) God spoke these words to Abraham when he was 75 years old. At that time Sarah was 65 years old. It would be another 25 years before God would bless Abraham and Sarah with a son; Isaac….a child born when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. Even though things did not look good for Abraham to be the father of a great nation…Abraham believed and trusted in God.
“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (Genesis 22:1-2)
God’s request was an amazing test of faith! Surely if anyone had a reason to ask…Abraham had every reason to ask “Why me?” Isaac was Abraham’s only son! It was already miraculous that Abraham and Sarah had Isaac as old as they were…how could they hope for another child if Isaac was sacrificed. Isaac was Abraham’s heir….and the heir to the promised land. Abraham loved his son…for these reasons…and many more. And now God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son. If we were in that position we might certainly question God saying, “Why me?”
In the face of our trials and tribulations we often question God. This is what Satan wants us to do! Satan uses the trials, tribulations, and tests in our lives as temptation to blame God, question God, and doubt in God’s love for us. We fail often and fall into temptation. We question God asking “Why me?” when we hurt from losing friends and loved ones to death. We ask “why me?” when we find out that we have cancer, diabetes, or some other disease or infection that threatens the way we live…or threatens or life. We say “why me?” when we lose our job, our home, our car, or other possession.
Why me? Why now? What did I do to deserve this? While we may use questions like this when it comes to God…Abraham did not. “Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.” (Genesis 22:3) Abraham did, without question, what God asked. That is great faith! Abraham trusted God in spite of the past challenges in receiving a son. He trusted God in spite of the promise of a great nation and land his offspring would call their own. That is great faith! Abraham would obey God in spite of having a three-day journey to change his mind. He obeyed in spite of the emotions he must have felt as he heard his son’s question: “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7b) That is great faith…even in the midst of greatest heartache! Abraham had great faith that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8)
While Abraham could have asked God “Why me?” God answered Abraham. “When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:9-14)
God provided for Abraham…Isaac…and for you. While God would not allow Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son…God would. God provides for Abraham in and through “the Angel of the LORD.” The Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament is the Pre-incarnate Christ. Here, the Pre-incarnate Christ would save Abraham’s only son…even as He, God’s only Son, would become the sacrifice. Even more interesting is that this event takes place on Mount Moriah, where Jerusalem would later be built and where the Lamb of God would be provided and offered once and for all by God for the sins of the world. God provides!
Yes, we all have our own trials and tribulations. Yes, we have suffered the loss of loved ones, friends, family, and neighbors. Yes, we struggle with the pain of sickness and disease. We especially suffer from the disease of sin. Yes, we have often questioned God asking “Why me?” While God does not always answer when and where we want him to…He does answer. And while God does not always give us the answer we want…He does give us what we need. Even as we question God…God answers with love; the gift of His only Son dying for us.
While God does not promise us a life in this world free from sickness or disease, heartache or mourning, pain or suffering…He does promise us these things in heaven. God provides…He provides for all eternity. He provides the waters of baptism to make you His child. He promises forgiveness in the bread and wine; the very body and blood of Jesus. He provides because He loves you to death…the death of His Son. Through His sacrifice…you are forgiven…and made His child. That’s God’s love for you. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Recent Comments