The Faith of Father Abraham

Millersport Covenant Church Sermon Podcasts

Originally named Abram, which means, "Exalted Father," God eventually changes Abram's name to Abraham, which means, "Father of a multitude." God chose Abraham to be a daddy at a very old age (100) and when the angel told him and wife Sarah they'd bear a son, they actually laughed. So a year later when their son was born, they named him Isaac which means: “He laughs.” But then God tests Abraham severely by asking him to sacrifice his son. We scarcely can grasp the agony of this command. But Abraham, with great faith, obeys. But even as Abraham's knife is raised, God halts the test. Nearby a ram caught in a thicket is provided to take Isaac's place on the altar. Hebrews 11:19 speaks to Abraham's faith: "Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead." (NLT) When we think of Jesus praying in the Garden on the night of His arrest, we might imagine God the Father and God the Son recalling the vivid scene with Abraham and Isaac. Jesus' sacrifice, however, would not be aborted. In that agonizing moment the mutual love of the Father and the Son shifted to us. "For the joy set before Him, our Lord endured the cross!” Christ our just Savior would die for we unjust sinners; the Righteous One for the unrighteous many. What incredible love! May the reality of Jesus' sacrifice sink down into the depths of all our hearts!