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From Eternity Past
Christ, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he should see My day; and
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he saw it, and was glad.”
John 8:56
. The ram offered in place of Isaac
represented the Son of God, who was to be sacrificed in our stead. The
Father, looking upon His Son, said to the sinner, “Live: I have found a
ransom.”
The agony which Abraham endured during the dark days of that
fearful trial was permitted that he might understand something of the
greatness of the sacrifice made by God for man’s redemption. No
other test could have caused Abraham such torture of soul as did the
offering of his son. God gave His Son to a death of agony and shame.
The angels were not permitted to interpose, as in the case of Isaac.
There was no voice to cry, “It is enough.” To save the fallen race, the
King of glory yielded up His life.
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
Romans
8:32
.
Lesson Book of the Universe
The sacrifice required of Abraham was not alone for his good nor
for succeeding generations; it was also for the instruction of the sinless
intelligences of heaven and other worlds. The field on which the plan of
redemption is wrought out is the lesson book of the universe. Because
Abraham had shown a lack of faith, Satan had accused him before
angels and God. God desired to prove the loyalty of His servant before
all heaven, to demonstrate that nothing less than perfect obedience can
be accepted, and to open more fully before them the plan of salvation.
The trial brought upon Adam involved no suffering; but the com-
mand to Abraham demanded the most agonizing sacrifice. All heaven
beheld with wonder and admiration Abraham’s unfaltering obedience.
All heaven applauded his fidelity. Satan’s accusations were shown to
be false. God’s covenant testified that obedience will be rewarded.
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When the command was given Abraham to offer his son, all heav-
enly beings with intense earnestness watched each step in the ful-
fillment of this command. Light was shed upon the mystery of re-
demption, and even the angels understood more clearly the wonderful
provision that God had made for man’s salvation. See
1 Peter 1:12
.
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