The Offering Of Isaac (Sonnet Sequence) Poem by Gert Strydom

(after A. G. Visser)

I The night in Beersheba (Free verse sonnet)

For Abraham there was no sleep in that dark night
where he did turn around as if no sleep would ever come again
and he was totally astonished by the words of his Lord and God
where he was waiting on another command, an answer from God.
Before first light he and Isaac was ready and he spoke softly with Sarah
did not know how to comfort a motherly heart and his words were stupid
and to her that knows him so well he could not hide his fear
as she also did know that God wanted him to slaughter Isaac.
He remembers how God did speak with him in Haran,
the great covenant that God came to make with him
and how He did order him to move away into the unknown,
did notice Isaac his promised child with his peaceful face,
thought of love that through God does become reality
and he looked away while tears rolled down his face.

II The Lord will provide (Free verse sonnet)

Abraham and Isaac did walk to the place that God did indicate
to follow the commandments of God where they were serving him truthfully,
silently Isaac carried the wood, did look at his father's worn face
and asked about the offering animal and Abraham said: "God will provide."
Then Abraham did build an altar of stone with wood on it,
did tie up his own son and did lift the knife high above his head
agitated felt his heart beating inside of him in confusion.
"Abraham! Abraham! " An angel called with a bright face.
When he looked up Abraham saw a ram that was stuck in a bush
and he took the ram and offered it in the place of his son
and the smoke of the offering fire went up and was snowy-white
where on that day he found still greater mercy with God
where Isaac did come to his father and gladly did embrace him
and that God does provide is all that he talked about.


III The Lord Jesus Christ is the lamb (Free verse sonnet)

Before his eyes on that day Abraham saw into the future
the hill with the three crosses and the Son of God on one,
how Mary his earthly beloved mother stands crying,
the pain and anguish and suffering on the face of Jesus Christ

and Abraham gets the insight that He is suffering for all of humanity,
that He is innocently dieing there for the sins of everyone
but the mob does mock Him there and they do curse Him constantly,
do not notice Him as the light in the dark world
where He asks His Father to forgive their sins
and Abraham kneels down there in the dust and hears:
"He is the offering lamb, the only Son of God
who alone does carry the sins of the world"
and Abraham looks up and notices His pierced hands and feet
where He hangs naked and cursed is His cruel lot.

[Reference: "Die offerande van Isak" (The offering of Isaac)by A. G. Visser.]

© Gert Strydom