Love Beyond Measure

This week in my Bible study group we talked about God's request for Abram to sacrafice Isaac in Genesis 22. There were lots of things that Beth Moore pointed out that I'd really never thought about before. But through my study of the lesson I couldn't get one thing off of my mind. I wondered how Isaac must have felt.
I mean think about it. He had been with his father to sacrafice before. He knew the routine. He even asked Abram where the lamb was. He had to sense that something was happening.
Surely Abram's shoulders were heavy when he was climbing that mountain. I'm sure he wiped a tear or two from his eyes thinking of what he was about to do. Isaac must have seen this.
Then they reached the top of the mountain. Abram probably turned to Isaac in dread. I can see Isaac begin to shake as he listened to his father's words.
I mean, just imagine it. What would you do? If your father turned to you and said, "You must be the sacrafice. God has requested you."
Personally, I probably would have run as fast as I could. I would have reached the bottom of that mountain in record time.
Isaac didn't do that. He laid down on the alter. He trusted God. He loved his father enough to believe that his death was God's will.
What a beautiful picture of what Christ did for us.
Of course we all know that God provided a ram and saved Isaac's life that day. Abram didn't have to kill his son. But God did. God just wanted Abram to know just what God would one day do for the world.
So take some time today to think of just what Jesus did. Think of how He laid down His life. And remember that He not only died for you but instead of you.