Thursday 6 July 1989

1After these things,God tested Abraham,and said to him, “Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

2He said, “Now take your son,your only son, Isaac,whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah.Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountainswhich I will tell you of.”

3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey;and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son.He split the wood for the burnt offering,and rose up, and went to the place ofwhich God had told him.4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes,and saw the place far off.5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey.The boy and I will go over there.We will worship, and come back to you.”6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offeringand laid it on Isaac his son.He took in his hand the fire and the knife.They both went together.7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?”

He said, “Here I am, my son.”

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

8Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”So they both went together.9They came to the place which God had told him of.Abraham built the altar there,and laid the wood in order,bound Isaac his son,and laid him on the altar, on the wood.10Abraham stretched out his hand,and took the knife to kill his son.

11The Lord’s angel called to him out of the sky,and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”

He said, “Here I am.”

12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him.For now I know that you fear God,since you have not withheld your son,your only son, from me.”

13Abraham lifted up his eyes,and looked, and sawthat behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.Abraham went and took the ram,and offered him up for a burnt offering instead of his son.14Abraham called the name ofthat place “The Lord Will Provide”.As it is said to this day,“On the Lord’s mountain,it will be provided.”

15The Lord’s angel called to Abraham a second time out of the sky,16and said, “‘I have sworn by myself,’says the Lord, ‘because you have done this thing,and have not withheld your son, your only son,17that I will bless you greatly,and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens,and like the sand which is on the seashore.Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.18All the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring,because you have obeyed my voice.’”

19So Abraham returned to his young men,and they rose up and went together to Beersheba.Abraham lived at Beersheba.

1Not to us, Lord, not to us,but to your name give glory,for your loving kindness, and for your truth’s sake.2Why should the nations say,“Where is their God, now?”

3But our God is in the heavens.He does whatever he pleases.4Their idols are silver and gold,the work of men’s hands.

5They have mouths, but they don’t speak.They have eyes, but they don’t see.6They have ears, but they don’t hear.They have noses, but they don’t smell.

8Those who make them will be like them;yes, everyone who trusts in them.9Israel, trust in the Lord!He is their help and their shield.

1He entered into a boat and crossed over,and came into his own city.2Behold, they brought to him a manwho was paralyzed, lying on a bed.Jesus, seeing their faith,said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up!Your sins are forgiven you.”

3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves,“This man blasphemes.”

4Jesus, knowing their thoughts,said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?5For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?6But that you may knowthat the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins—” (then he said to the paralytic),“Get up, and take up your mat,and go to your house.”

7He arose and departed to his house.8But when the multitudes saw it,they marveled and glorified God,who had given such authority to men.