When Abraham took Isaac up on that mountain, I can only imagine the heartbreak he must have felt. That only son of his…talking to his father like he did most every day. He probably talked about his day, asked some questions, maybe he even hummed on the way up. The one thing we KNOW he did ask was, “Where is the lamb for the offering?” Abraham’s response: “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”
“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 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. 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 the 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 the place The Lord Will Provide.”
Genesis 22: 8-14
What if we named all that we have provision? Isn’t that really what it is? The food that is in your pantry…the clothes that you put on daily…the warm bed… the table where you share laughs—all provision from Him. And all He really asks of us is to walk with Him, to love Him, to trust Him, and to accept His only Son Whom He really did sacrifice for us.
Yes, it is the season of tinsel and lit trees with beautiful ornaments. It is filled with baking and wrapping and giving and togetherness, but it can be hard. Instead of visions of sugar plums, you have visions of not having enough. You may be feeling like you are the only one who God forgot this season. You just knew that this one would be better than the last one, it just had to be! You want to turn on the Christmas music and smell the apple cinnamon candles and feel the joy that you felt once before.
Well, my friend, hang on—because God does see you. He knows when you are sleeping and He knows when you’re awake! He knows when you’re sad and He knows, too, exactly what you need. He loves you so much that He wants to give you blessings upon blessings. And the very first one of those blessings was Jesus.
His Son did climb with a cross on His back and because of that, you are going to be okay. Can you put your trust in Him today? Let all worry and stress fall away, and let His grace rain on you. He is everywhere, and His provision is everywhere and so is His love. God can always find a ram!
“Now I know. Now I know. Since You did not spare Your only Son, how will You not also graciously give us—even me—all things You know I need? (Romans 8:32)” *
*The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas; by Ann Voskamp
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Do you know Him? Do you know that He really did die for you? If you need hope this season, Jesus is waiting to give you all you need. If you do, then I encourage you to pray this prayer with me.
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Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that You loved me enough to send Jesus, Your Son, to die in my place. I accept You, Jesus, today as my Lord and Savior. Walk with me and be my Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
