October 8, 2026
GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:
“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac to carry while he himself carried the fire and the knife.” (Genesis 22.6a)
REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:
Foreshadowing of the Messianic Promise ahead!
Two days ago, I drew your attention to two forward glances to the Passion Story of Christ found in Genesis 22.3: “early in the morning” and “he chopped the wood.” Yesterday, we were presented with a third forward glance in Genesis 22.4 and 5: “on the third day.” Today, we are burdened with the “carrying of the wood for sacrifice.” We know that Abraham bore the responsibility of making the arrangements for the journey God would take he and Isaac on. He would get the donkey (another aspect of the Passion Week story), cut the wood, tender the fire, sharpen the knife, gather the provisions necessary for the trip and take two witnesses. If I have not mentioned this yet, Moriah is what is now identified as Mount Zion, or The Temple Mount. This was not an unknown location for sacrifices. This was the same place as where Melchizedek, the King of Salem, lived and where he and Abraham first met. As the priest and King of Salem, Melchizedek would offer sacrifices on this place as well. It was a sacred and holy place. By assumption, Melchizedek may have been serving God Almighty before Abraham ever arrived, just as Jethro was priest at Sinai before Moses arrived.
Today’s foreshadowing precursor of the Messianic promise and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, is that “Isaac carried the wood which would support his sacrifice.” The image is clear with this connection to Jesus bearing the crossbar upon which He would be hung and lifted to the support post and there crucified being nailed at the wrists and connected to the support post with a nail through His feet. The imagery is clear, mighty ones of God, of God’s revelation of what was to come if the people of God did not maintain their vigil of faithfulness and trust in Him fully for their salvation and daily provision. Did God know that the final act of His mercy and grace was inevitable? Did God use this precursor starting the road of faith as the requirement for redemption as a sign to “the Enemy” that nothing was going to impede which He had declared in the Garden to Him? It was going to take a sacrifice of a willing obedient servant to fulfill the legacy of eternal life which was to be the blessing for all the people of God who would separate themselves out from those who are God’s people. Even then…..
TODAYS’ PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:
Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness endeavor, but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
