Recently I had the joy of taking my daughter on a date. I asked her if she wanted to go fishing. She looked at me and replied, “Daddy, ice fishing, fly fishing, or kayak fishing?” I just about lost it. My daughter understands addiction well. We planned a trip to a local lake and took the time to make sure that our gear and our snacks were ready to go. The day finally came and we loaded up and went to our little lake. While fishing she turned to me and smiled. She said, “Daddy, I love you.” In that moment my heart became overwhelmed with such a love and desire to protect this precious angel I teared up. I thought to myself why she would just turn and say that. I wondered what was going through her mind and her heart. A couple seconds later she took a big handful of yogurt pretzels and stuffed them into her mouth and giggled.
What possesses us to tell someone that we love them? What drives our hearts and minds to a place of vulnerability to speak these powerful words? As I reflect on the word I find myself gravitating to three passages for an answer. First we look to Genesis 22. Here we find Abraham with a long promised son, walking patiently within concern with his son to sacrifice to the LORD. As they reach the top I can only imagine the scene. Here is Abraham preparing the place for the sacrifice. Issac has seen it before and he sits quietly as his dad places the rocks, the sticks, the fire. The love in Issac’s eyes and he is on an adventure with his dad. In that moment Abraham turns and speaks to his son about the request of the LORD. Out of love and reverence to God Almighty, Issac laid on the altar to be slain by his father. Both not quite understanding but trusting deeply in the LORD. Suddenly the voice of the LORD proclaims a stay of hand. Abraham breaks down in thanksgiving and worship with his son. The two take the provided sacrifice and more deeply than ever love the LORD.
Next we would jump to Jeremiah 11. Here you have a young prophet fearful because there is a plot to take his life. The words sum up the situation well.
“The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, ‘Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.’ But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see you vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.”
Here is Jeremiah being led to death and a gentle father explains the plan. The God of all creation steps in and saves this prophet and he worships. His love for God grows and his understanding of trust is forever deepened. He finds himself in a place of pure love.
The final passage I gravitate to is found in John 19 as well as the other gospels. A man not known by this world. From Isaiah we read about him.
“13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you- his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind-
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors. – Isaiah 52:13—53:12”
Another sacrifice was to take place. This one was not haunted by a father but was endured. It was not prevented but accepted and given freely. A man deserving beyond the best of everything silently accepted that His death was imminent. He was pierced and beaten. He was shamed and spit upon. He was made nothing and died on a cross.
This sacrifice was not stayed because of me. It was not stayed because of you. Even as I write this I reflect on my daughter turning to me and saying that she loves me. I reflect and turn to my Heavenly Father and say Abba!!! I love you. I will never understand why I deserve such an act of love but I will spend my life surrendering at the cross and sitting in aw of the sacrifice. My understanding of trust and love is deepened and my sin and shame have become powerless. I am forgiven and the sacrifice of my life that is owed has been taken away. So has it for you as well. We can take a handful of yogurt pretzels and stuff them into our mouth and giggle because that sacrifice was not stayed. Tis so sweet…
Tis so sweet Recently I had the joy of taking my daughter on a date. I asked her if she wanted to go fishing.