“‘Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. Fro this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:23-24
To celebrate his son’s return, the father sent men out to bring the fattened calf and kill it; this speaks to us about God’s provision for His children. When He asked Abraham to offer his son in sacrifice, in an obedient way, Abraham walked for three days until he reached Mount Moriah. When they were approaching the place where God had told him to sacrifice his son, the boy stopped his dad and said, “Dad, can I ask you something?” And he replied, “Son, ask whatever you want.” So Isaac asked, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). This was the hardest moment for Abraham; perhaps he kept silent, closed his eyes, and lifted up a prayer, saying, “God, help me. I do not know how to answer my child; how can I tell him he is my sacrifice? Lord, give me a wise word to answer my son…” In that moment, the greatest revelation that anyone could ever have came to him, because Abraham heard the voice of God saying, “Jehovah Jireh.” This means “God provides.” When they reached the mountain, Abraham built an altar and tied his son’s hands and feet. As he was being tied up, Isaac was possibly asking, “Dad, what are you doing? What are you thinking of doing with me? Why are you tying my hands and feet? Dad, I don’t believe you’re about to do what I’m thinking!” Abraham was having an internal conflict that made him want to end the matter as quickly as possible, and when he was about to sacrifice his son, the Angel of the Lord stopped him saying, “Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from Me your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).
I think that in this moment God spoke in a supernatural way, and Abraham saw the Cross of Calvary. Jesus said, “Abraham saw my day and was glad” (John 8:56). How could he have had this experience? Maybe in that instant God removed the veil and revealed to Abraham the work of the crucifixion. Maybe Abraham said, “Father, what does this person hanging on a cross mean?” And the Father answered, “This person is My Son; just like you walked three days to reach this mount, Mount Moriah, My Son will be dead for three days and three nights, but He will be resurrected on the third day.” “But why is Your Son naked?” And the Father said, “Although He was rich, the owner of the whole universe, He became poor to enrich many through His poverty. All the provision that the human race needs is found on the Cross lifted at Calvary, and everyone who looks at His Cross, and knows Jesus as his provider, will have the abundance of God” (2 Corinthians 8:9, Author’s paraphrase). “Why is His body covered in wounds?” “This is the medicine that cures all infirmity” (Isaiah 53:4-5, Author’s paraphrase.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“After we got married, our greatest dream was to have a son as soon as we could. I became pregnant, but it was an ectopic pregnancy, and two months later it burst the tube and also my right ovary. The diagnosis was that I would never become pregnant again because the other tube was completely blocked, and it could not be opened with any treatment. That afternoon, my pastor called me and said, “Today Pastor Castellanos preached about Hannah, and this word is for you, ‘A year from today you will embrace a child.’” I believed this word; I knew this was God providing a miracle, and in the face of every medical diagnosis, I found strength. My faith was assured in His Word, knowing that the Lord had already provided for my healing in the Cross of Calvary. A year after that word, I became pregnant. My daughter is now 6 years old. We love and serve God with all our hearts.” (Liseth Arias)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I have the best from God, so I will give Him the best of me.”
Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Two.
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
Our Bible Reading Plan gives 25 daily readings per month. There is no scheduled reading for today. You can use this time to catch up on any readings you may have missed, or read through previous passages again.
