9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” (Genesis 22)
When Christ Comes, it is usually not just for a "social visit." Yes, He does want a day in/day out type of fellowship with us, but their is a goal in view - to totally trust in Him. God had repeatedly promised Abraham a son through whom he would be a great people, but Abraham demonstrated less than total faith that it would happen. Now that it had, God comes again to develop Abraham's faith - calling on him to surrender the very thing for which he had lived his long life. When God sent His angel to call on Mary and Joseph, he was calling on them to fully trust His crazy plan. When Christ called His disciples He promised to stretch them and their "little faith." This Advent, Christ wants nothing more than to have us receive Him, His call, His presence, & trust Him as Savior, Lord, & loving Creator, so that we will say with full assurance, "The LORD will provide; I trust Him."
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