The great seed of blessing

In about a week the Muslims worldwide will celebrate what we call in Malaysia Hari Raya Haji and worldwide is called Eid al-Adha. The core part of the celebration is the test of Abraham to sacrifice his son. The older manuscripts recording this event (about 4,000 years ago) mention that the son is Isaac, but the Muslims insist that it was Ishmael based on the Quran whose oldest manuscript is about 1,500 years ago. Abraham is recorded in the older manuscripts as demonstrating obedience in this matter.

Genesis 22:2, Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

But before Abraham can sacrifice his son with the knife God intervenes and blesses Abraham and Isaac with not only an alternative sacrifice, but exponential blessing.

Genesis 22:16-17, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

History has certainly shown this to be true. It is time for us to acknowledge this blessing and the ultimate blessing of Jesus Christ that comes from the blessing of Abraham to save all of mankind.

Father, teach me to obey like Abraham.

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