Creator, Father, King #57

Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

WHAT DO YOU HOLD most dear in life?

Sports? Popularity? Academics? Work? Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream? (If your answer is the last option, please share!)

As we discussed yesterday, God tested Abraham in Genesis 22 to see what Abraham held most dearly—his son, Isaac, and God’s great promise, or God himself. Isaac, as you recall, was a very special child—the son through whom God’s great promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3) would be fulfilled. Yet after Isaac was finally born, God shocked Abraham by telling him to take a three-day journey and sacrifice Isaac on a mountain. God was testing Abraham to see where Abraham’s true allegiance lied.

God had no intention of letting Isaac die, but he wanted to see the full measure of Abraham’s devotion to him. This is reflected in what the angel said as Abraham raised the dagger: “Do not hurt [Isaac] in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

What’s It Mean?

Does that verse sound familiar to you? It should. The Bible is full of historical parallelisms—events that God ordained to occur in Old Testament times to reflect the gospel—the greater message of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Look at today’s verse. Do you see the similarities? Just like Abraham was willing to give up his own son, God took the far greater step and actually sacrificed his own Son on the cross and raised him back to life so that we could be saved from our sins. God’s love for you is unparalleled. There’s nothing more that he could have given up for you than his own Son, who had committed no wrong (2 Corinthians 5:21) and did nothing deserving death. What amazing love the Father and Son have for us!

At the beginning of today’s devotion, we asked the question, What do you hold most dear in life? Hopefully, the answer is a relationship with God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now let’s flip that question around: What does God hold most dear in life? The answer is you, if you are his child through faith!

Now What?

As you read the Old Testament in your personal quiet times, keep your eyes peeled for gospel-centric parallelisms like this one. They’re all over!

Did You Know?

Another parallelism with gospel overtones is found in Genesis 22:8. Can you see the connection?