“Don’t lay a hand on the boy†the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son.†Genesis 22:12
“Now I know?â€
Question? Didn’t God almighty already know this?
This passage was in a recent quiet time of mine and, like many times before, I just took those three words at face value,
“Now I knowâ€
But they always troubled me. Who is this for? Why does the angel say this to Abraham?
“Now I knowâ€
God already knew. This isn’t new knowledge for the omniscient God. He knew before it ever happened.
He knew before Abraham even had a son,
before even Abraham,
before the creation of the world. God knew this. So why does He say this?
For Abraham. This wasn’t about knowledge. God already had that—has always had that. Abraham proved over and over again that God was in his head too. Abraham had vast knowledge of God and his ways.
But did he understand? A lot of people have knowledge and it makes no difference at all. Knowledge can remain in the head.
So what was God saying?
He was saying to Abraham, “You’ve passed the test. now you’re ready!â€
Understanding is different. Understanding can activate a person’s passion. Understanding means an important transfer has taken place. The knowledge has moved form the brain to the heart and now we’re getting somewhere.
When that baton is passed, watch out! Great things are about to happen for God’s glory!
PS Read that passage again, s-l-o-w-l-y. It was the angel speaking, not God. Could it be that our lives are even a lesson to the millions upon million of angels in heaven?
People are watching.
Angels too!
Sobering, isn’t it?