The Lord will Provide the Sacrifice

Genesis 22

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In the early 1800s, there was an evangelist by the name of Müller who ran a network of orphanages in England, and it’s estimated that over 10,000 children came and went through those doors. So you can imagine how much food it would take to feed all those hungry mouths. But one day, one of his cooks came to him with some unfortunate news, and he said, we have nothing to give these kids. We have no food. Should we send them away?

And Müller’s response was quite interesting. He said, no, don’t send them away. In fact, get them ready for the meal, set them down, prepare the table and we shall pray and give thanks to God for the meal he is about to provide. It wasn’t long after when the front doors of the orphanage burst open and a baker came through with trays and trays and trays of bread, and he said, God came to me in a dream last night alerting me that you guys would need food today. Soon after that, the door burst open again and a milkman came in and he said, my milk cart just broke down. Can you drink this milk before it spoils? You see, the Lord himself certainly provided for Müller and those orphans on that day.

This reminds me of one of my favorite passages in Genesis. (Genesis 22) It’s the account of where Abraham is commanded to give a sacrifice upon the mountain, but with a little twist, because he’s commanded to sacrifice his own son, Isaac. So as they go up the mountain, Isaac notices. He goes, dad, where? Where’s the animal? For the sacrifice? And Abraham, in a very Müller way, responds. The Lord himself will provide the sacrifice.

See, we examine this text in the Lenten season because it’s so clearly foreshadows the coming sacrifice of Christ upon the cross. You see, in Abraham’s case, God commanded a sacrifice. But in my case, and in your case, our sin, your sin demands a sacrifice. Your sin must be punished. Even that secret sin that you’re so ashamed of, it must be punished.

But instead of God placing you upon the altar to sacrifice you, to punish you for the sins that you committed. The Lord himself provides the sacrifice. Yes, the Lord himself provides the Holy Lamb of God caught in the thicket of the crown of thorns, who goes uncomplaining forth and crawls up upon the altar of the Lord’s own, providing where his blood is shed to atone for my sin. The sins of Abraham and Isaac, and you as well. Your sins are forgiven.

So this Lenten season, we cling to the words of Abraham. The Lord himself will provide the sacrifice. Yes, the Lord himself provides the lamb for your sacrifice. He forgives your sin. The Lord himself does it, and the Lord himself is preparing for you a heavenly home where there is no more hunger. There’s no more sorrow, no pain, no suffering. And where the Lord himself will wipe every tear from your eye.

So may we go forth, not only in this Lenten season, but always in the boldness and the thanksgiving for the sacrifice and the provision the Lord is about to give you. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who provides himself as the sacrifice guard and keep your hearts and minds in true faith and obedience to him. Amen.