Good Morning.
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. (Genesis 22:13)
I trust that most of you have seen a shofar — a ram’s horn — and have heard the sounds made with the blowing of the shofar. Different calls made with the biblical trumpet represent different things but all of them remind of us this fact: to hear the sound of the shofar requires that an innocent live must be taken.
More specifically, the “voice of the shofar” is the voice of innocent blood crying and calling out to those who hear it. In this particular case the shofar reminds us of the ram who was caught in the thicket by its horns. That animal died so that Isaac wouldn’t have to. Yet, it was to be a “lamb” that God would provide according to Abraham. Thus we are to understand that the voice of the shofar is the voice of the Innocent One who gave His life as “a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Consequently, the sound of the shofar is a sound of victory for you and I. Because of Messiah’s willingness to be offered up, we have been reconciled back to our Heavenly Father. Because He was sacrificed in our stead, we rejoice in the knowledge that we are regarded as His sons and daughters. So the next time you hear the sound of the shofar, remember that God did just what Abraham said He would do — “God will provide Himself the lamb” — and has redeemed us by His blood.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
Thanks for the reminder in this teaching. I blow the shofar with all of your shofar blowers at Shabbat service as an on-line congregant. Shalom!