The Messiah Mystery: A Lent StudyPrimjer

Clues on the Mountain Believe it or not, clues about the mysterious Messiah are all over the Bible. There are over 300 clues in the Old Testament that point us to the coming Jesus. Sometimes the clues are found in unexpected stories.  For example, look for the clues in Genesis 22:1-14, when Abraham was ordered by God to sacrifice his only son, Isaac.  The last thing Abraham wanted to do was take his son’s life. He could hardly believe God was asking him to do such a horrific act. But Abraham knew God’s character. He could trust God even though he couldn’t fathom what God was doing. Abraham built an altar as instructed, and was ready to kill his son when he was stopped by an angel. “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him,” God told him, “for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me” (Genesis 22:12). The story goes on in verses 13-14: 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. Don’t miss the clue! Notice that God provided a ram—a male sheep.  Not a cow, dog, horse, or even a girl sheep. That’s because the sacrifice that God requires is a lamb, a male sheep. Instead of making Abraham go and find what he needed, God provided it exactly for him. Did you know God has done that for you, too?  That is why we look forward to Easter—to the day that God provided Jesus, the Lamb of God, to be the sacrifice for your sins and mine. Thank you, God, for giving us so many clues to know that Jesus is the Messiah.  We are grateful for the Bible that tells us why a sacrifice was needed and what kind you require.  Thank you that even in this you have provided for us a sacrifice, one that was perfect in every way. Amen.