son of the promise
carries bundle of kindling
for required sacrifice
his faithful father
bears heavier burden
of patriarchal love
a fire burning hot
in his chest rises to this
high pinnacle of trust
son willingly lays life
down, to be bound; back
arched on rough dry wood
wide eyes close tight
as boy draws a final breath,
bares his throat to the knife
trembling hand halts midair
when angel calls out
“Abraham, STOP!”
Look, the Lord provides
substitute ram for the altar;
its blood is shed instead
as a foreshadow of Christ,
when Father’s promised Son
comes as our Lamb of sacrifice
God’s covenant renewal
inspires radical obedience
which results in greater blessing.
____________
I first wrote this in 2020 for our church candlelight service of Lessons & Carols.
a poem in my pocket 
Dec 08, 2023 @ 07:40:46
Loved to hear you read this, and the story is such a strong one.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:17:43
Thanks, Bjorn…happy to join all of you for OLN Live.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 06:03:05
It was great to see you and hear you read yesterday. So heartfelt!
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:19:05
Thank you, Merril ! I appreciated your reading too 🙂
Dec 08, 2023 @ 10:54:11
You’re very welcome, Lynn.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 05:05:52
You paint such a strong.rather awesome scene here… Your words doing justice to your topic and conjuring the power within… I’ll be back to see what you do next…
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:19:46
Thank you for reading & commenting, Scott!
Dec 08, 2023 @ 04:21:27
Powerful write, Lynn! 💖💖
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:20:13
❤ thanks, Sanaa!
Dec 08, 2023 @ 02:20:00
I often wonder at God that such was expected from Abraham (and his son)!
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:23:03
Yes, such a severe test of Abraham’s faith is disturbing to us. Yet in the end his son was spared and God eventually sent His Son to die for our sin.
Dec 07, 2023 @ 21:53:49
Lynn, This is a wonderful retelling of this story of faith and what it bears witness to.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:23:31
Thanks much, Dora.
Dec 07, 2023 @ 19:08:13
Beautiful last stanza.
Dec 07, 2023 @ 17:21:08
Good to hear you read this tonight, Lynn. I admire your strength of conviction.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:24:24
Thank you, Lisa! I enjoyed your reading too 🙂
Dec 08, 2023 @ 12:18:52
You’re welcome and I hope I didn’t sound too ditzy (always a fear.)
Dec 08, 2023 @ 19:57:10
I didn’t think you were ditzy, Lisa.
Dec 09, 2023 @ 13:35:24
❤
Dec 07, 2023 @ 15:50:03
Amen.
Dec 07, 2023 @ 15:41:55
This story always blows me away. I don’t know if I would have such radical obedience. It’s easy to think so, knowing the boy is spared in the end.
Dec 08, 2023 @ 09:25:14
As a mom of 5 sons, this story grips me too!