2026 Daily Lenten Journey Day 33 – We are the New Israel

Today is a good day to remind you that we always read the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament. We already know the ‘end’ of the story. We already know Christ has come and will come again. We already know we are the inheritors of God’s Promise to Abraham.

I say that because today Isaiah tells us the Israel is saved by the Lord. That might cause confusion because we also know that Israel was defeated many times through history. Saint Paul reminds us (see Romans 4) that WE are Israel. WE are the inheritors of God’s Promise.

Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? I made the earth, and created man upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. I have aroused him in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the LORD of hosts. Thus says the LORD: “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: ‘God is with you only, and there is no other, no god besides him.'” Truly, thou art a God who hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of them are put to shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in confusion together. But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. – Isaiah 45.11-17

After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father! “And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 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. So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore. And your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.” – Genesis 22.1-18

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A man without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor. He who loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. A man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity. A stupid son is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy. A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice. A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him. To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong. He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. He who is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes disgrace. The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream. It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice. – Proverbs 17.17-18.5

None of this means that we are immune to struggle or even political conquer from our enemies. If we have learned anything over the past two thousand years it is that evil in the world never gives up trying to defeat us. Evil ‘can have’ this world. We will inherit the next, if you ask me.

Go back again and read today’s passage from Genesis. Abraham’s faith and trust in God, even enough to offer his son to Him, was accounted as righteousness. Over the past several weeks we have seen the earth flood and Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed. Still Israel is saved by God.

Our job during Great Lent isn’t to defeat the world. It is to develop the level of faith in God like Abraham. It is our opportunity to inherit heaven, not by military victory. That was the mistaken expectation of the Jews, the Israel of the Old Testament.

Our victory comes through faith. Our inheritance comes through adoption as Sons and Daughters of God, descendants of Abraham. How do we get that level of faith? You guessed it. We get that deep faith through prayer and fasting. Look again at Abraham’s sacrifice of Isaac.

Abraham was willing to give his only son to God. There is not much greater than the willingness to offer your flesh and blood to God. In fact, that is what our fasting is. It is our “living sacrifice” (see Romans 12) to God. Abraham gave Isaac. We give ourselves through fasting.

Abraham spoke with God and he heard God speak to him. This was only possible because Abraham’s heart was ‘tuned’ to God through constant prayer and communion. Are there any other examples of prayer, fasting and communion that will convince us?

Honestly, I can not imagine the stress that Abraham must have felt as he was willing to sacrifice his son to God. Sort of makes my fasting for Great Lent seem trivial. It is the least I could do for God.

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