Africa Advent: The Sacrifice

God gave Abraham a son. 

Then He told him to sacrifice his only son…

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Isaac said to his father, “My father!” Abraham said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7)

Can you imagine what Abraham felt in that moment? God promised Abraham a son and God promised that through Isaac he’d have many children. God asked him to sacrifice Isaac…

The Scriptures say in Hebrews 11:19, “He considered that God was able even to raise [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

Abraham believed so fully that even in death God would fulfill His promise to Abraham by raising his son back to life. I want that faith. The faith that doesn’t waver in Christ. The faith that says, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Through Abraham's bloodline would come the ultimate sacrifice—God’s only son.

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In that moment Abraham turned to his son Isaac and said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” He did. Not just this once but for all eternity.

*All photos by Heather K. Moss