Remember Abraham? And how God told him to take his only son and give him as a sacrifice? What a weird request - since God had said this boy would be the fruition of his promise to Abraham - that he would be the father of many nations!
But we see Abraham's trust in who God was, and his willingness to do things God's way - even though it was so weird. Because he knew God - and he knew that somehow it would all work out.
And we see God intervening at the last moment, to prevent the follow through! And it seems it is a lesson about loyalty and devotion. It is also a lesson to Abraham's dreading and grieving heart about the cost to his God's heart in gifting his own Son this way.
But yet another thought occurred to me. Maybe God was saying - "You cannot get salvation your own way. Your greatest gift is not enough! It is something I have to provide for you." Like the ram in the story, caught in the thorn bush, that took Isaac's place - a representation of the costly salvation that would come from God himself.
Our greatest effort is not enough. We cannot do it ourselves! Our only hope is in the gift that God himself provides.
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