The Makings of a Sacrifice

Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together. – Genesis 22:7-8

As Abraham and Isaac made their way to Moriah, Isaac began to ponder the necessary elements … or makings … of the sacrifice they intended to offer. Fire? Check. Wood? Check. Lamb? Uh, “Hey, Dad! Where’s the lamb?” Knowing that Abraham knew the answer to Isaac’s question speaks VOLUMES concerning his faith and we, in turn, can begin to understand why the Apostle Paul would centuries later state that God “reckoned” or accounted Abraham’s faith as righteousness.

What do we bring to the “sacrifice?” We may provide the wood of good works. We may even be able to come up with some “fiery” zeal, but that is where our efforts begin to fail. For God, Himself, must provide the sacrifice and the only faith that can result in righteousness is faith in HIS faithfulness. God … alone … can provide all the necessary “makings” of a sacrifice … and, thank Him, that is exactly what He did!

Not in purity or in holiness merely, for in Paradise man was holy, and he shall be holy when redeemed through the sacrifice of Christ and made an heir of heaven. – Matthew Simpson