We love our kids. Once I was asked to be a judge of a tribal talent show at Camp Tallowood in which my kids were involved. I declined. First of all, I feel a special love for all of the kids. Second, I can’t really be as objective as I want to be. One time I was called upon to be the umpire in a game where one of our sons was playing. In fact, he was pitching and I was the home plate umpire. I didn’t want to favor him, so I called the strike zone pretty tight. It was the only game his team lost all summer. It was almost the first time in our league that the pitcher charged the home plate umpire. He didn’t charge me but he wasn’t happy with me.
I know we love our kids, but think about how Abraham’s love for Isaac and God’s request for him to sacrifice him on the mountaintop. Remember Abraham had waited a lifetime for God to give him his son Isaac. Then after a season God tested him by telling him to sacrifice his son on the altar on Mount Moriah. In faith Abraham obeyed taking Isaac along with two of his servants. As he took Abraham up the mountain, leaving the servants behind, his words were telling: “The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” Abraham was obedient to God and trusted that if his son were sacrificed, God would bring him back to life. When Abraham climbed the mountain and prepared to obey, God stopped him and provided a ram. Isaac’s life was spared.
Not far from Mount Moriah, in the same chain of hills stood a skull shaped mountain called Golgotha. Hundreds of years later, God’s only son, the son he loved would walk up that hill. But this time there was no ram. When they nailed him to the cross there was no one to take his place. Indeed, he was the Lamb of God, slain to take away all of our sins. Then on the third day he arose. Without question, God loved his only Son greatly. But he gave him up for us all. Why? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
