Abraham

One thing that intrigues me about this poem is the reference to Jesus being "caught in the thicket of God's love." I see Him helpless, defenseless, the crown of thorns on his head, nailed to the cross - the final sacrifice for all men for all time, God's love poured out for guilty mankind. Jesus was so committed to this thing that He willingly placed Himself in that thicket of thorns and nails and became as helpless and defenseless as Abraham's ram. Oh, yes, He could have called ten thousand angels, but He chose not to, such was His great love for us, the thicket of God's love.

Let that love wash over you as you read this poem.

"Abraham, O Abraham," the voice of God so clearly came,
"Get thee to Moriah and sacrifice unto my Name.
Take thy son, thine only son, and make an offering unto me;
Isaac, whom thou lovest so, thy sacrificial lamb shall be."

~In calm obedience he arose at the dawning of the morn,
Took the son of promise who in his later years was born ~

"O father, tell me father, tell, where is the lamb that we shall slay?"
Abraham with trusting heart said "God will provide a lamb today."
So to the mountain top they went; he laid the wood upon his son
And laid him on the altar there that the will of God be done.

With knife raised up and held aloft and face awash with bitter tears
He was prepared to pay the cost and give to God his son so dear.
But as the knife plunged downward, lo, the voice of God rang true and clear -
"Lay not thine hand upon the lad for now I know you hold me dear."

~And in a thicket caught by the horns Abraham there saw a ram;
Isaac rose with shouts of joy; God did provide the lamb ~

In type and shadow we can see and, oh, the sight is glorious,
Far down the years to Calvary where Jesus was the Lamb for us.
God took His Son, His only Son, and laid Him on the cruel tree;
Caught in the thicket of God's love, He was slain for you and me.


~Nick Bowen