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Hello! Does it seem to you that these seven weeks studying Genesis 22:1-19 have flown by? I hope you’ve been able to dig a little with me here and that the Spirit has revealed amazing treasure as your study has progressed.

My work this week included reading through the cross-references for my focus verses (8 and 14), a quick review of a few other versions of them, and an even quicker check of some of the available commentaries.

Last Week’s Work

CROSS-REFERENCES

The cross-references for verse 8 seemed to fall into two categories: first, those that reminded me that nothing is too difficult for God, His resources are unlimited, and with Him, all things are possible. And second, those that pointed to Jesus as the perfect Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world. This echoes what I suggested in last week’s post that this verse might be a prophecy of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the wood of a cross for all who believe.

When I looked at cross-references for verse 14, I discovered seven other locations in the Old Testament named for attributes of God’s character:

1. Well of the Living One who sees me (Hagar’s name referring to God’s omniscience);
2. House of God (Jacob’s name for the city where his grandfather’s covenant of land, offspring, and blessing for all mankind was extended by God);
3. The face of God (Jacob’s name for the place near a stream where he wrestled with God, who changed his name to Israel);
4. The LORD is my banner (Moses’ name for the altar erected after victory over Amalek);
5. The LORD is Peace (Gideon’s name for the altar he erected when the LORD greeted him in peace and reassured him he wouldn’t die after seeing an angel of the LORD);
6. Stone of help (Samuel’s name for the rock set between Mizpah and Shen to commemorate God’s favor when Israel defeated the Philistines);
7. YHWH is there (according to Ezekiel, the name of a city to be built within Israel’s restored territory).

OTHER TRANSLATIONS

My review of v8 in several other translations was unremarkable, but the last phrase of v14 did turn up some small differences from the ESV. The King James Version renders the last phrase … in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen, while the Good News Translation says, … on the LORD’s mountain he provides, and the Amplified Bible encompasses both: … on the mountain of the LORD it will be seen and provided.

COMMENTARY

After reviewing several commentaries, I was glad to see some of them also mentioning the comparison between Isaac and Jesus I suggested in week five. And BibleRef.com gave me something else to think about with the hypothesis that Isaac, who could carry wood for the sacrifice up the mountain, would surely be able to get away from Abraham, who was 100 years older, had Isaac wanted to do so. Instead, Isaac likely allowed himself to be bound and laid upon the altar. So, both men seem to have had enormous trust in God, that He would indeed provide a suitable substitute. And their trust was not in vain, as we Christians believe our trust in the sacrificial offering of Jesus is also not in vain.

Finally, I love Charles W. Smith’s summation of this name in his discussion about v14: … because God sees, He provides. Jehovahjireh.

Dig-In Challenges

This coming week, let’s wrap up our study of 1 Samuel 17 and align with what we’ve discovered here:

1. PRAY: Use my prayer from week 2, or your own.
2. ALIGN: Review your study notes (or what I’ve posted since week 2) and consider what you’ve learned in this study.
3. ALIGN: Then, think about how the Spirit has convicted you through this study. In other words, where has He shown you misalignment between what we’ve discovered and how you practice your faith?
4. ALIGN: Next, look to God’s Word for guidance to correct that misalignment. For me, this is often a verse from the study text or from one of the cross-references.
5. ALIGN: And finally, reflect on how you can change thoughts or actions to align more closely with what you’ve discovered here.
   To make this stick, I commit to changing my thoughts (by focusing daily on my correction verse(s), above) and/or actions (by stopping or starting an activity as the Spirit leads) for at least three weeks.

I know the Lord will bless our efforts to understand and apply His Word!