“Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
As Abraham and Isaac were headed “yonder” to worship, there were three things they brought with them on their journey. As we see in Genesis 22:6 they brought the wood, the knife and the fire. What’s interesting to me about these three components is that while Abraham certainly felt it necessary to bring a knife and fire, why would he bring his own wood?
Having been to Israel I know that there are trees in and around this area that would later become known as Jerusalem. Could he not just as easily, gathered up some wood from anywhere on his journey, or even at the place where he was to build this altar of sacrifice?
Wood throughout scripture represents man and his insufficient humanity. As we see in the book of Exodus, when God gives instructions to Moses on how to build the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, instead of using items made with pure, solid gold, these components were made of wood, overlaid with gold. This represented humanity covered in the Glory of God. God in His goodness has covered our flesh with His Glory through Jesus, so that all He sees when He looks at us is Himself. As we are covered by the blood and righteousness of Jesus, all the Father can see reflecting back at Him is His own glory.
Abraham knew that not just any wood would do. To create the type of fire necessary for a burnt offering, it would have to be dry wood. Not green, fresh wood from a tree that had just been cut down, but wood that had had time to dry completely out so that it could easily catch fire. In much the same way, it’s a lot easier to move into the “yonder” place of worship when you bring your own wood.
Sure, I can be joyful and praise God with you over the things you’ve overcome in your life, but for me to move into a deep place of worship, I’ve got to get my own wood out. I’ve got to remember those dried up dead things that only God Himself could have delivered me from. Worship is easy when I can get my own wood out and remember where I was and realize that if it had not been for the grace and mercy of the Father that there’s no telling where I would be today.
The wood necessary for worship is in the remembrance of what you used to be and the realization of where you are today. That kind of wood lights up real easy, and before you know it you’ve got both hands raised toward heaven, your eyes closed, big tears running down your face and you don’t care who sees you.
Shane Barnard wrote a great worship song that sums up how easy is to worship when you bring your own wood. Here are the lyrics:
“When I Think About The Lord”
When I think about the Lord
how He saved me, how He raised me
how He filled me with the Holy Ghost
how He healed me to the uttermost
when I think about the Lord
how he picked me up
turned me around
how He set my feet
on solid ground
It makes me want to shout
hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you’re worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus!
Lord, you’re worthy
of all the glory, and all the honor
and all the praise!
Today’s Thought: Worship is so much easier when we think about where we would be, had He not….