Genesis Chapter 22
As we read the account of the events of Abraham’s life, we begin to see a reoccurring theme of God teaching Abraham to trust Him completely. God was building-up a man of great faith in the man Abraham little by little. God was calling him to “put no other gods before me,” even before the Ten Commandments had been given. In our minds we can’t help but think that commanding him to sacrifice his son was too great a test. It does not make sense to us. The Canaanites who lived all around Abraham sacrificed their children to their gods, burning them alive. Abraham knew this was NOT what God was calling him to do. This was not a test to appease God to earn some after-life benefit, but it was a test of faith and of trust in the God of the right now.
Abraham demonstrated that he knew that God could be trusted. God would either spare the life of his son in some miraculous way (even if he had to plunge a knife into his body). Or God would raise Isaac back to life. I also believe that Abraham truly believed that God might supply an alternative sacrifice at the last moment. There was no hesitation on Abraham’s part to obey the voice of God. It was by far the hardest test that God brought to the hand of His servant Abraham.
And as I write these words trying desperately to write what God would have me to write…the tears are flowing down my face because this is a test that I certainly would fail. I have such a long way to go in trusting my precious LORD. I know He will never call me to such a test, but oh how I fail Him.
Let's Reflect
1. Did Abraham question the command that God gave him?
2. How long was the journey to get to the place that God had told Abraham to go to where he should sacrifice his son?
3. He took with him two servants who had helped him cut the wood for the sacrifice and load the donkey for the journey. But he also knew that the servants would try to stop him from doing what he had to do, so what did Abraham say to the servants?
4. Notice that Abraham had been a spiritual leader to his son Isaac too. What question did Isaac ask of his father that tells us he had been taught the ways of God?
5. What answer did he give his son that showed his trust in God?
6. God calls Isaac the “only son” of Abraham. We know that he also had Ishmael, but Isaac was the son that the great covenant promise was going to come through. Not only would many nations come from Isaac, but the promised redeemer would come from his line. Knowing this promise was made by God, Abraham lifted the knife in the air, but what happened?
7. What did Abraham call the place of this test?
“Isaac’s life as a picture of Jesus becomes even clearer: Both were loved by their father. Both offered themselves willingly. Both carried wood up the hill of their sacrifice. Both were sacrificed on the same hill. Both were delivered from death on the third day.” [Guzik]
8. What did Abraham discover about his extended family when he returned from the mountain?
