sacrifice – Judy in the Sky

Read Deuteronomy 12 – Wasn’t that a lovely break we took in Psalm 40 when I last wrote? May you always be mindful of when your heart needs to pause from the ‘should’s’ of life. The Lord truly cares about your heart above all else. Okay, shall we get back on course with our chapter?

The Israelites are given some preparation instructions for worship. Step one is to clean house (:2-3). The Lord commands that all the places of worship created by the previous inhabitants be utterly destroyed. He is protecting them from being led astray.

The Lord assures them that He will select the place where they are to offer sacrifices, and grants permission for them to kill and eat as needed apart from an act of worship. This is a freedom, a liberty the Lord is expressly granting them, with the only warning to ensure there is no blood (:15,16,20-25).

They are commanded to provide for the Levite; that is the tribe set aside as priests. (:12,18-19).

Our chapter ends like it began, instructing the Israelites to: “take care that you be not ensnared to follow them, after they have been destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? – that I also may do the same.’ “ :30 The Lord HATES the abominable things these nations did to serve their gods. They even burned their children alive as human sacrifices to their gods. (:31)

I pray you do not get lost in these instructions to the Israelites about things that may seem far removed from Christian life today. Blood sacrifices are no longer required as Jesus shed his blood as our once and for all sacrifice. And we are still not to dabble in occult practices, even under the guise of curiosity, lest we be led astray. Remember, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 He desires a life of joyful worship from us, as he did for our ancient brothers and sisters. “And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all that you undertake.” 18b.

Read Genesis 22 – Sometimes one’s faith is tested.

If this is your first time reading this chapter, your faith may feel tested in the second verse. God tells Abraham to take his son, his only son up to the mountain and sacrifice him. Wait, what? Yes, but, keep reading mama bear…

Our chapter is filled with symbolism about Jesus. Starting with verse :2; God says nearly the same words about Jesus (Matt 3:17, 17:5 / Mark 1:11). And God does offer Jesus, His one and only Son, as a sacrifice for our sins (John 3:16).

As you read, consider Isaac’s willingness. He is not a small child, verse :6 tells us the wood for the burnt offering was laid upon his shoulders – as Jesus would carry his own cross up to Golgotha (John 19:7)… Both sons were willing to be obedient to their fathers, even to lay down their lives.

Isaac asks Abraham where the sheep is for the burnt offering, Abraham answers in great faith, the Lord will provide (:8). And at the last possible moment, an angel stops Abraham from killing Isaac. He truly fears the Lord, and will not withhold anything from Him. God provides a ram in the thicket for the burnt offering.

Beloved, while these verses are unique to Abraham (Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and God will not ask anyone to sacrifice their child), one might wonder why God asked this of him. God knows Abrahams heart, as He knows yours, but sometimes we don’t know our own and the Lord will bring circumstances to refine our faith. “Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14