And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
When someone offers to pay a bill you could not afford to pay, the gratitude that someone provided for you is palpable. Now imagine that this substitutionary atonement actually saved your life! These verses are from the famous story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac to the Lord at his command. We can look at Abraham as faithful but also crazy. That is until we see how faithful he was. God promised that a great nation would come from him through Isaac. Therefore, Isaac could not die, or, if he did, the Lord would bring him back to life. Was Abraham willing to go through with it or did he know it was a test? We must conclude he was. Thank God he provided a substitute!
We can say the same. We were dead in our sins. We deserve eternal punishment for our trespasses. We have no recourse. Someone must pay the penalty. Who would be willing to endure torment and death to satisfy the wrath of God against us? Thank God he provided a substitute in his Son Jesus Christ! He submitted to the thicket of the authorities. He went to the cross that had our name on it. God did not stay their hands. He completed the transaction. Our debt is…
Paid in full!
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church