“I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” Psalm 81:10
When we speak of the love of God, we need to ask ourselves the question: “How much did it cost Christ to make a sinner whole, and thus, what is the value of a soul?” Paul gives us a glimpse of the heart of God when he writes: “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Abraham was called upon by God to take Isaac, specifically declaring to him: “…thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovedst, and get thee into the land of Moriah: and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” (Gen. 22:2) This event in the life of Abraham is very signifcant, because it is a picture, forecasting a future event. It is meant, in part, to reveal to us something of what it cost Abraham as a father, to obey God in the giving of his son’s life as a sacrifice. Beyond the obvious lessons of the obedience of faith, and singular devotion that Abraham had towards God, there was the matter of a singular hope, having been built and established on a singular promise by God to Abraham: “…and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3) This singular hope, this “seed,” was and is Christ. Abraham’s singular hope was in the promised son, Isaac. Now, he was called upon by God to destroy that hope. Why? Because the God of the promise must be trusted only, singularly, for its fulfillment. Abraham’s greatest trial was not at the beginning of his life, but when he was more than one hundred years old. It was a test of faith at a specific time, concerning a single event, but one which would cost Abraham everything, for nothing could resurrect his son from the dead but the intervention of God. This was Abraham’s only hope.
When Abraham took Isaac, and set off toward the land of Moriah, the destination of God’s appointing, he travelled three days. One has to wonder at the anguish of heart and mind that poured over Abraham during this time. One must wonder also concerning Abraham’s experience as being the precursor of the event of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, and resurrection. What was going through the heart of the Father before and during the crucifixion? How much did the perfect love of the Father, His fathomless sensitiveness to every aspect of the suffering of His Son, cause the Father to suffer? How can the suffering of the Son, and of the Father, be measured? The Apostle Paul reveals to us something of his pursuit to know this cost to the Father and the Son, when he wrote: “…that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of HIs sufferings.” (Phil. 3:10) For the believer, the measure of the suffering of God, unveiled in the complete giving of His Son, reveals to us how much He is willing to give in order for a lost soul to be saved.
In the fifth chapter of Romans, we find a short phrase mentioned at least three times. It is the two words, “…much more.” It is in the context of the grace of God revealed in giving the “free gift,” this “gift by grace.” He then writes of, “… the righteousness of One,” the free gift which came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18) The summation is this: “…where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound.”
When we come to Psalm 81, God offers to Israel a most simple, remarkable opportunity to know Him. It has to do with the measure of God’s gift, and His willingness to meet man’s need. He says, “Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (v.10) He will fill the believer with His Spirit, and also, the knowledge of His will. Who will obey?
Dear Father, Make us good and clean receivers of Thine abundant grace this day, for Thy glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.