CHAPTER TWELVE
Not long after God visited the house of Abraham, Sarah conceived a child and they named him Isaac. While Abraham stands in his field, he hears the voice of the
Lord again: “Abraham.” “Yes, my Lord, here I am,” Abraham responds. “Take your son Isaac, whom I have given you, to Mount Moria, where I want you to offer a sacrifice to me, your son Isaac.”
“Lord, even in this will I obey, for you are faithful and your Word is true, that even should I sacrifice my son, you, my Lord, have the power to raise him up again. So be it. According to your Word, my Lord, your faithful servant believes.”
The next morning Abraham awakes Isaac. “Be prepared, my son, for today we will honor God. Let us depart for Moria, for there we will offer a sacrifice to the Lord our God.” “Yes, Father,” Isaac responds.
In the third day of the journey, Isaac prompts his father.
“Father, look, we have all we need to offer this sacrifice. How is it then that there is no lamb?” Abraham puts his right hand on Isaac, his only begotten son. “Do not fear, my son.”
As he says this Abraham points into the distance to mount Moria, “God will provide a lamb.”
As Abraham and Isaac arrive at the top of the mount, they begin to construct an altar.
As they lay one stone on top of another, Abraham sits down with Isaac. “Isaac, my son, I have received this A word from the Lord, that He requires sacrifice, even the dearest possession I own, you my son.” Isaac just remains silent; he does not say a word.
He prostrates himself on the altar and awaits the offering. As Abraham lifts his knife, the angel of the Lord takes hold of his arm. “Abraham, even now you remain faithful, that you would not refrain from even this, that you are willing to offer your only son's life.
Look to the thicket of thorny bush. What do you see, Abraham?” “I see a ram, Lord.” “So it is.”
At this, Abraham sees the heavens open. He has swept away in an open vision. As he looks around him, he does not see an altar anymore, but rather a cross.
As he gazes upon the ram, it takes on the form as of the only begotten Son of God, crowned in thorns of sin, led like a lamb to the slaughter.
Willingly He becomes one with the cross, awaiting the fall of the hammer: the instrument of death strikes until He is put to shame. Suddenly a hand from heaven reaches for the cross; the cross becomes like a seed, even an olive seed.
This Seed is then planted in the belly of the deep for three days. Then, without warning, the sun rises and the darkness is expelled. Abraham beholds the seedling as it grows into a young tree, with nine fruits on seven stems; this tree's branches reach to everycorner of the earth; and every bird under the sun find shelter in its branches.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It has been decades, even fifty since man was born from the seed of Abraham.
With a few words the Father summons all in the heavenly realms to gather in Abraham’s bosom, for now, the Word will address His creation. That which is to unfold will be one of the most profound sermons ever preached. The Son Himself will now speak. The crowd is in a state of ecstatic praise. Angels soar about, giving praise unto God; everything that has breath is praising God.
The Seraphim, the Cherubim, Gabriel the great messenger and The Arch Angel Michael. The crowd sings in unison as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit appears before them. Now the Father speaks. As the Father points to the Son, He cries out, “Behold, the Lamb that takes away the sins of the World. He, My only-begotten, will be buried for three days and rise as a soft tender seedling, nations will bow at His feet, yes, every knee shall bow and confess that He, my Son is Lord. The atmosphere is building and building, angels are flapping their wings in a state of absolute exultation and worship. Even, yes, the sons and daughters of men are altered in a state of absolute delirium.
With this, the Father takes Son’s hand and presents Him to the crowd. With every step that the Son takes, praise rises and rises; the atmosphere is electric. The Son builds His hand a fist, and with every step He gives, He shouts out: “We are going to save your sons, your daughters, your family, and loved ones. The Son holds out his palms.
Behold, these hands will bear the mark of love, and from my side will flow mercy. Then it will be finished, and we will be united in heaven forever.”