Ephesians 1:5-6, Examined!

In Genesis 22:1-14, we find a story that can be hard to comprehend, unless we see it in light of the cross of Christ. God promised to give Abraham and his wife, Sarah a son, but He withheld the fulfillment of that promise for over 25 years. Abraham was 100 years of age! Finally, Isaac, the son of God's promise, was born. The fact that Abraham loved Isaac is mentioned by God with these words, "He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love..." (Gen 22:2). Because God mentions Abraham's love for Isaac, we can imagine how much Abraham loved his son! But, when Isaac was still young, God told Abraham to do something that's very shocking! He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you" (Gen 22:2). How could God ask Abraham to do that? It's not possible to understand to any loving parent how God could command Abraham to do such a thing! What's even more shocking is that Abraham proceeded to obey God's command without any objection or request for an explanation! Abraham did not know yet that God would provide a ram for a substitute. Why is this event recorded for us? It's there to show us in emotional, explicit, and graphic terms what the Father did for us by not sparing His own Son to secure our salvation! As Christ followers, we need to know that "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all." In light of this, we should keep the awe of God's redeeming love before us all the time! Paul said it best with these words, "In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:5-6)! Let's begin thanking and praising God for the glory of His freely bestowed grace! Keep in mind, grace gave us what we did not deserve! Your move. Be encouraged!