A mayapple blossom

I've been walking through the mountains since I was old enough to scoot up the
hillside with my cousins.  When affordable digital cameras appeared a few years
ago, I coupled photography with my love of the outdoors.  Looking for
interesting subjects to photograph, a new world was revealed.  I began seeing
things I had never noticed before.

Earlier this week I renewed my love for the outdoors while toting a small
camera.  A newly-replaced knee enables me to be back on the trails (though I'm
not yet ready for ambitious hiking), and I drank deeply of the experience.  As I
first began the short stroll, something caught my eye: a mayapple blossom.

If you've wandered through the woods, you likely are familiar with mayapples.
These short sturdy plants appear in large numbers in the spring.  They stand
only a few inches tall and might be mistaken for leafy umbrellas.  Never before,
however, had I seen the bloom.  I considered the find a bonus for the day's
outing, and I now have a nice addition to my collection of photos of
wildflowers.

Also earlier this week I ventured down a path that I've been on hundreds of
times - a study of the Bible, the word of God.  On this occasion I was following
another's lead.  His course led me through familiar terrain, Genesis 22.  But
once again I saw something I had never seen before on any of my dozens of
excursions through that terrain.  And I prize the find!

Abraham is not known as a man of faith for nothing!  Genesis 22 tells of his
remarkable response to God's command to offer his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.
God didn't actually allow Abraham to kill the young boy, but when Abraham raised
his knife in the air he had every intention of obeying a command he didn't
understand.  That's faith!

Before Abraham and his son reach the place of sacrifice, there is this note: "So
Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he
took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together"
(Genesis 22:18).  I also noted that the phrase "and the two of them went
together" is repeated in verse 8.

What happened on Mount Moriah that day served as a preview of a far greater
event that would happen about 2,000 years later.  On that later date another
Father led His Son up (maybe) the same mountain to offer Him as a sacrifice.  In
this latter incident, no one stopped the bloodshed.  What was the purpose of
Jesus' death on Calvary?  " ... Christ died for our sins" (1 Corinthians 15:3).

You surely recall the scene of Jesus going up to be offered: John described it
simply by noting that Jesus was "bearing His cross" (John 19:17).  As before,
wood was laid upon the Son by the Father.  But also, as before, the Son did not
go alone; "the two of them went together".

What power there is in God's word!  Though we've been down the old path numerous
times there are always new finds awaiting us.  The observation of Hebrews 4:12
is true: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-
edged sword ..."  No, this is no ordinary book.  It deserves a visit every day.
And every day we'll leave with valuable discoveries.

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit
and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these
ideas further.

Timothy D. Hall