When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
In movies and TV, the goal is tension. Will the boy get the girl? Will the hero defuse the bomb in time? The intention is for you to watch until the end so your heart rate increases until the resolution occurs. You are in the shoes of the protagonist. Imagine being Abraham. God had promised a son and heir in his old age. The suspense had ended years earlier. There would be no son. Abraham and Sarah were far too old to have children so everyone would know how this movie ended. There would be no tension. That is, until God made a promise. Now Abraham was told to sacrifice that son, Isaac, his only son. What would happen?
God would keep his promise. The angel stayed his hand that was raised against his son. Simeon and Anna had had their tension resolved when they saw the baby Jesus. The disciples had had their tension resolved when Jesus died on a cross. There would be no hope. That is, until God kept his promise. Jesus said he would rise on the third day and he did.
Sometimes it is worse when there is no tension, when there is no hope. He has promised hope.
Dear Lord, thank you for the promises that you will be with us until the end of the age. Until that time, help us see your promises amid the tensions of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church