January 29

January 29.

Abraham & Isaac -- Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac foreshadows Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: Genesis 22

Reading 2: Romans 8:31-39

Reading 3: Hebrews 11:17-19

Today, a wonderful story is the account of Abraham's faith and obedience to God, prefiguring the sacrifice God Himself would make in Jesus. And there are many glimpses of that sacrifice in this chapter:

"Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Abraham told the servants “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.

“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,”

"You have not withheld from me, even your son, your only son.”

All these foreshadowings of the coming death of Jesus! Paul writes to the Romans about what that means for us today: "I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love."

This chapter is the first glimpse we have in the Old Testament of God's plan for resurrection. The writer to the Hebrews confirms this: "Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead."

Now we are the beneficiaries of the faith of Abraham and Isaac and the beneficiaries of God's sacrifice of His own Son. Let's rejoice!

Have a great day!

Mark.