God Will Provide

There’s “speed-boat reading” and “glass-bottom boat reading.” 

I first learned these categories from Pastor Mike Schumann, and I think he picked them up from a seasoned author and professor at Southern Seminary, Don Whitney. The idea is that we can approach Bible reading in at least two ways: 

The first way of reading is for breadth. We are trying to cover large chunks of Scripture at a quicker pace. Imagine racing, in a speed boat, from one end of a lake to the other, in order to get a sense of the whole. 

The second way of reading is for depth. We are digging down, meditating on the words, chasing Scripture references. It’s slower, but the point is to stare down, through the ‘glass bottom,’ into particular parts of the lake.

I know I’ve mentioned these categories a few times before (but to write the same things to you is no trouble for me, and it’s safe for you:). I think it’s just so important to remember that there’s more than one “way” to read the Bible! But read it, one way or another, because we do not grow as Christians without the word of God. 

Staring at Genesis 22

I’ve been staring through the glass bottom this year, finally making my way to Genesis 22 this week, the story of the binding of Isaac. 

It is a masterpiece of a story, and in my most recent reading, I noticed a new (to me) piece of its brilliance.

First, the chapter begins:

“After these things God tested Abraham and said to him …”

This is crucial information. God tested Abraham. What we’re about to read in the following verses is a test. Imagine that screeching sound that comes over the radio before an emergency broadcast. That’s what verse 1 is doing: skusshhh raaant garrr skeeesh skooooool gomppp bonk skuuuuush — this is a test. 

God has a plan here. An intent.

And you know what is super fascinating? We know crucial information that Abraham doesn’t. Verse 1 introduces a layer of dramatic irony. The readers of the story know something the main character doesn’t. It builds suspense.

What’s more?  

Down in verse 7, as Abraham and Isaac are walking closer to Mount Moriah, to the place of offering, Isaac notices something:

“Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

This is a second layer of dramatic irony! We know why there’s no lamb for the offering! The readers, again, know something another character doesn’t. It, again, builds suspense. We, as readers, are in this privileged position to see the story from God’s perspective, knowing more of what’s going on than both Abraham and Isaac!

But Abraham responds to Isaac’s question:

“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (verse 8)

Wait a minute. God never told Abraham that. How does Abraham know? How can he say that?

It’s because he sees with the eyes of faith, and now suddenly the tables have turned on the readers! Abraham actually knows more than we do! He knows that God will provide, one way or another, and Abraham believes this to the very last possible second. Abraham actually tied Isaac up and laid him on the wood! The text says that he had the knife in his hand — I’m reading this and sweating! — and then, finally, the angel of Yahweh stops Abraham and, sure enough, caught over in a nearby thicket, there’s a ram.

“So Abraham called the name of the place, ‘Yahweh will provide.’” (verse 14)

His faith became reality. Who he trusted God to be is who God proved himself to be. 

There’s a lot we could say here, but at least one takeaway is that we will always see more of what’s going on in anything when we look with the eyes of faith. Abraham models that for us. 

And so when we’re in the midst of something hard, perhaps even a little insane — when we know we don’t know exactly what God is doing — we can, like Abraham, trust him to provide.