1st “LOVE”:
(Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, Matthew 3:17, and Matthew 22:34-40)
The first time the word “LOVE” is used in the Bible is in Genesis 22:2. Its similarities to John 3:16 “For God so loved the word, that he gave his only Son…” This first word “love” is to describe a love between a very old father and his only legitimate son and heir. As any parent knows, the love they have for their children is precious and immense, a living heartbeat carrying all their hopes and dreams.
Abraham’s love and his son Isaac became a symbol and prophecy for how God would save all people from sin. But Isaac wasn’t sinless, he wouldn’t be able to fulfill the requirement of payment. But we can read in Genesis 22:8 and 14 that Abraham knows before and after this sacrifice test of offering his son, that “God will provide for himself the lamb…”
The first time we read the word “LOVE” in the New Testament is in Matthew 3:17 when God calls out of the heavens as Jesus is being baptized by John: “This is my Son, whom I love.” And we know God loved us so much that he sent his Son in order to save us (John 3:16).
God loves us, just as he loves his only Son Jesus, as his children. And as parents know, their children will never understand the depth of their love until they themselves become parents one day. Jesus tells us to love God with all our heart and soul, but we fail. Does a father stop loving his children because they fail? No, at least not a good father does. Nor does our Heavenly Father ever stop loving us. And as we grow in faith and in the Word, we will realize just how awesome His LOVE is from the beginning recorded in Genesis..
מגן השביל 