CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
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THE LAW Day 1
THE CROSS IN THE GARDEN Genesis 3:8–15 Day 2 THE BLOOD THAT CRIES OUT Genesis 4:1–16 Day 3 TAKE YOUR ONLY SON, WHOM YOU LOVE Genesis 22:1–19 Day 4 THE DREAMER Genesis 37 Day 5 THE TRUE PASSOVER Exodus 12:1–32 Day 6 STRIKE THE ROCK Exodus 17:1–7 Day 7 CLEAN! Leviticus 4:1–12 Day 8 THE WHINGING WANDERERS Numbers 21:1–9 Day 9 ZEAL FOR THE LORD Numbers 25 Day 10 CURSED UPON A TREE Deuteronomy 21:22–23
THE HISTORY
Day 11 THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A DAY LIKE THIS Joshua 10:1–15 Day 12 THE CITIES OF REFUGE Joshua 20 Day 13 THE KING WHO HAD A BELLYFUL Judges 3:12–30 Day 14 SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD Judges 7 v
2 5 8 11 14 17 20 23 26 29
33 36 39 42
Day 15 THE GREATER JUDGE Judges 16:23–31 Day 16 THE GOLIATH OF DEATH 1 Samuel 17:41–58 Day 17 THE INNOCENT MESSIAH 1 Samuel 29 Day 18 THE DARKEST ROAD 2 Samuel 15:13–31 Day 19 REVIVAL! 2 Chronicles 35:1–19 Day 20 IF I PERISH, I PERISH Esther 4
THE WISDOM
Day 21 I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES Job 19 Day 22 THE DAY THE NATIONS RAGED Psalm 2 Day 23 THE VOICE OF GOD Psalm 19 Day 24 FORSAKEN Psalm 22:1–11 Day 25 BEHOLD THE MAN Psalm 22:12–31 Day 26 FROM THE MUD AND MIRE Psalm 40 Day 27 THIRSTY SOULS Psalm 42–43 Day 28 THE GREATEST BETRAYAL Psalm 55 Day 29 THE VINEGAR AND THE GALL Psalm 69 Day 30 LOVE STRONG AS DEATH Song of Songs 8:6–7
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45 48 51 54 57 60
64 67 70 73 76 79 82 85 88 91
THE PROPHETS
Day 31 PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS Isaiah 52:13—53:6 Day 32 HE BORE THE SINS OF MANY Isaiah 53:7–12 Day 33 WRATH AND COMPASSION Lamentations 3 Day 34 IN THE LIONS’ DEN Daniel 6 Day 35 ME OR WE? Daniel 9 Day 36 SCALES OF JUSTICE Amos 8 Day 37 IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH Jonah 2 Day 38 THE GOD THEY PIERCED Zechariah 12 Day 39 THE FOUNTAIN OF CLEANSING Zechariah 13:1–6 Day 40 THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS Malachi 4
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION OR PERSONAL REFLECTION
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95 98 101 104 107 110 113 116 119 122
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DAY 3
TAKE YOUR ONLY SON, WHOM YOU LOVE Genesis 22:1–19
Traditionally during Lent Christians give up something that, for the rest of the year, they enjoy. They may give up a certain kind of food, like chocolate. More seriously, they may commit to regular fasting. Or, it may be a favourite hobby or activity. Ideally, those who practise ‘giving up’ something, do so in order to replace it with something else that enables them to focus on Jesus who gave up everything for us. Jesus, who ‘humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:8). How appropriate, then, as we reflect upon the ‘shadows of the cross’ that we pause to think about Abraham and the sacrifice God called upon him to make. Back in Genesis 12 God promised to bless Abraham. God announced that through him he would bless all the peoples of the earth (vv 1–3). Then in chapter 15 God promised Abraham a son, and from him countless descendants (vv 4–5). Finally, in chapter 21 this promised son, Isaac, is born. We can imagine the overwhelming joy of Abraham and Sarah. It comes as a shock, then, to turn to the next chapter and hear God test Abraham and tell him to take Isaac to a mountain and ‘sacrifice him there as a burnt offering’ (22:2). It is very difficult to try and enter into Abraham’s state of mind at this point. Did God’s test leave him in emotional agony? Was he deeply conflicted between his commitment to God’s promise and his deep love for his only son? It’s perhaps unwise to conjecture too much about his feelings. Certainly, there’s nothing in the text to suggest emotional torment. 8
Abraham doesn’t plead with God as he did over the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19). There are no Gethsemane-like tears. Rather, throughout the ordeal he seems remarkably calm and confident. Is this a brave front hiding a tormented heart, partly so that Isaac won’t despair? Or is it an expression of Abraham’s faith? Somehow, and Abraham doesn’t yet know how, God will keep his promise to give him many offspring through this son. At the foot of the mountain, he tells his servants to stay there, ‘We will worship and then we will come back to you’ (v 5). Abraham’s faith in God is vindicated, and the Lord provides a ram for the sacrifice (v 13). Hebrews and James both see Abraham’s obedience as a model for us of true faith. For Hebrews, it demonstrates Abraham’s faith in God and his promises of blessing. For James, Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac is an example of the kind of faith that is more than empty words (2:21). It is faith expressed in works, even costly works. However, this powerful story is much more than that. Even God’s opening words to Abraham, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love’ (v 2) transport us immediately to another only beloved Son. Of this Son, the voice from heaven would announce, ‘This is my Son, whom I love’ (Matthew 17:5). This Son, also, would carry up the mountain on his back the wood for his sacrifice. This Son, also, was an innocent and willing sacrifice, who would allow himself to be tied to the altar on which he would be killed. Significantly, this mountain is called Moriah (v 2) which, Chronicles tells us, is where Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1). Here, on this mountain, the one to whom Isaac points was truly sacrificed. He was the lamb that was slaughtered. In Romans 8, speaking of God’s love for us, Paul writes, ‘He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all …’ (Romans 8:32). Hear also another echo of Genesis 22. Paul 9
rightly sees this ancient event as pointing us to the true Father who did not spare his Son. Since Abraham was obedient, God reaffirms his promise to bless all the nations through him and his descendants (Genesis 15:15–18). As the heirs of this promise, we know and celebrate the sacrifice of the other Son who brought these blessings of salvation to all peoples.
PRAYER Loving Father, you who did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all, thank you that you have not kept from us any good gift. Strengthen us to offer to you the spiritual sacrifice of lives that are holy and pleasing to you. In the name of the only, beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. Amen.
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