An Aging Father and His Son
“Epochal events remind us that God has His way in life’s storms and shocking moments. We may be stunned in disbelief, but God is not surprised or at a loss to know what to do. His plan is unfolding perfectly.” - CHUCK SWINDOLL Have you ever faced a trial that was so at a disappearing moving van, any who have surprising, unprecedented, and intense that taken a heart-wrenching walk past a coffin it took your breath away? You never saw it understand releasing too. At the end of his sermon, Chuck made two coming, and you had no idea how God would profound statements: get you through...but somehow, He did! Such severe trials are rare, thankfully. But • God never puts us through a test without a purpose. Usually, the purpose is designed they are among life’s most valuable experito make us release what we’re clutching ences because they reveal God’s saving power • When we trust God, He provides solutions in ways we otherwise would not see. that quickly loosen our grip. The rewards of This study is based on an account of an holding everything loosely will surpass aging father and his son: Abraham and anything we could have ever imagined Isaac. After decades of waiting for God to As painful as it is to let go of God’s good fulfil His promise to provide Abraham an heir, Abraham finally realized his dream gifts, the process of releasing opens our when Isaac was born. But then, God issued hands to receive the greatest reward—the a shocking command to Abraham: “Go and Giver Himself! As we internalize this biblisacrifice [Isaac] as a burnt offering on one of cal account, let’s anchor in our hearts the the mountains, which I will show you” (Gen- faithfulness of God who is our Provider. esis 22:2). It was the ultimate test of faith for Centuries after Abraham released his son Abraham and set the scene for an unforget- Isaac on Mount Moriah, our heavenly Father released His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as Isaac table, epochal event! Every parent who has choked back tears submitted himself to his father, so Jesus suron a child’s first day of school understands rendered Himself to the altar of the cross. releasing. Every retiree who removed the Only no lamb took Jesus’ place, for Jesus last picture, taped shut the last box, and was the Lamb! His sacrifice atoned for our said the last goodbye understands releas- sin, ushered us into an eternal relationship ing. Any who have felt their life savings slip with our heavenly Father, and became the through their fingers, any who have waved most epochal event of all. “An Aging Father and His Son” is from Chuck Swindoll’s series Epochal Events Nobody Expected. You can stream this message online anytime at insightforliving.ca/audiolibrary.
