Today, I am reading and commenting on  Genesis 21-23.

I know I have mentioned this before, but until a few years ago I always pictured Ishmael as a toddler when Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away.  However, if we pay attention to what is written we realize that Ishmael was already 14 years old when Isaac was born and it was probably two or more years later that he was sent away.  So, when Hagar “put the boy under one of the bushes” he was actually a young man.   Which brings me to Abraham taking Isaac to sacrifice him to God.  Interestingly, when God told Abraham to take Isaac He said that Isaac was Abraham’s only son, even though Ishmael was still alive.  We do not know how old Isaac was at this point, but I would guess he was about the same age as Ishmael when Abraham sent him away.  However, all of what I just wrote is just introduction.  The story of God calling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac is foreshadowing of Jesus.  God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love…”. Jesus was God’s only son whom He loved.  Then, when Abraham and Isaac left their servants, Isaac carried the wood for the burnt offering.  Jesus carried His cross on the way to His Crucifixion.  Finally, when Isaac asked his father where the lamb for the sacrifice was, Abraham answered that God will provide.  God did provide, both on this specific occasion and later with Jesus’ crucifixion.  I want us to take the lesson from this which I think Abraham took from it: God will provide.  Do as God directs and God will provide what you need.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.