Although many subtitles in various translations of the Bible lists this chapter as “God Tests Abraham” I’d much rather use the word, “grow”.  God continues to grow Abraham’s faith in this chapter.  After all the waiting, all the incorrect paths taken to arrive at the rightful heir, Abraham probably thinks after Isaac’s birth he can enjoy his son’s arrival and the opportunity to raise him since God has finally fulfilled His covenant promise of an heir.  Maybe Abraham isn’t thinking that at all, but since my own son just had a birthday this week I was transformed immediately to those moments following his entry.  I didn’t foresee one negative, unhappy moment occurring in our future.  I was a mom for the first time and this baby was “it”…a glorious moment in time to be treasured for the rest of my days.

Needless to say, there have been highs and lows of parenting.  Times when we rejoiced with our son and times we stood by hospital beds praying God would take care of him.  In all those times, my friends, I was never asked to do what Abraham was requested to do with Isaac….give him as an offering.  I remember clearly when my son entered his sophomore in college that I actually prayed that I could release his daily care into God’s hands.  I had tried to check up on him way too much the year before and it was weary for me and you can imagine how it was for him.  Six weeks later after that prayer my son broke his leg in a soccer game and was casted up to his hip.  Not exactly how I thought his life would go after giving him to God!  But, I have to admit, he learned so much about life and the game of soccer that could not have been taught any other way than with him flat on his back depending on others for just about everything.  Lessons were embedded in this event for both my son and me regarding our faith and our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, I didn’t mean this lesson to be about my adventures with my son; however, Abraham and Isaac learned lessons that probably could not have been taught any other way than the route in which God chose.  Abraham mounted that cut wood on the back of the donkey, took his promised heir, Isaac, two servants and headed for the land of Moriah.  (As a side note, Moriah is a mountain range located in Jerusalem and is also the site where Calvary stood.  The site of where the Cross stood which was the altar upon which the perfect sacrificial lamb was offered for our sins. Amazing, isn’t it?  There is a purpose and reason behind everything God does in scripture.  Thank you, Father, for your marvelous insight!).

And did I mention that in verse 2 God didn’t hide from Abraham who the intended sacrificial “lamb” would be in Moriah?  After all the items were loaded up and the trip began, Abraham had three days to travel with his son and continually think about what God had instructed him to do.  Can you imagine, friends?  I love my son so much and God would request me to travel with him for three days and during that time I would not give a hint as to what I had been told by Almighty God to do once we had reached Moriah?  I’m utterly amazed as I pen these words at the fortitude of Abraham.  What faith this man had to trust in God and if called on, could I do the same?

When Abraham told the servants to stay behind, I love what the translation of The Devotional Bible we are using as our main text says in verse 5, “…My son and I will go over there and worship and then we will come back to you.”  Wow, Abraham must have felt in his heart such a peace to verbally speak these words…we’re going to worship and we’ll be back!  Oh, that we would trust our Creator God that much!  Oh, that we would always lead our children into worship with their Lord and then go back into the world to share what God has taught us regardless of what those lessons happened to be!

I’m once again astounded as Abraham goes about making the preparations for the altar as Isaac questions the whereabouts of the animal to be sacrificed.  Abraham calmly answers that God will provide, but Isaac must have known what was going on when his own father tied him up and laid him on the wood altar.  Now a couple of things come to mind.  First, my son is a lot bigger than me or my husband, not to mention stronger.  Would he willingly allow one of us to tie him up and lay him on a wood altar to be offered as a sacrifice?  Secondly, this lesson is about Isaac as well as Abraham.  Isaac is a young man.  His whole life is ahead of him.  He’s not married, has no children and he has probably been told numerous times that he is the promised heir of the covenant made by God with his father, Abraham.  Wouldn’t he question his father’s actions?  Wouldn’t he think, “Why would my father kill me?”

Had Abraham previously told Isaac of the miraculous power of Almighty God?  Did Abraham have knowledge that God could raise the dead to life again (remember no resurrection miracles had been recorded prior to this time)?  Did Isaac feel that his father could not possibly do what God was requesting…or could he?  All we know is that scripture depicts the boy on the altar, Abraham with knife in hand ready to slay this promised heir when the angel of the Lord calls to him before the knife comes down on the body of Isaac.  The angel is the Lord Jesus Christ.

A ram is found in the bushes and the provision is made for a substitute for Isaac.  Abraham names this particular place, “The Lord Provides” (Jehovah-jireh) being one of the seven compound names used for God in the Old Testament.  By Abraham’s action to willingly sacrifice his only son, Isaac, we get a picture of the ultimate sacrifice God would make when His own son, Jesus Christ will be given as the perfect sacrificial lamb on the Cross of Calvary.

God states that through this experience Abraham has shown that he will not hold anything back, not even his only son and affirmation to the covenant promise is again established. Abraham will be blessed with many descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore and through these descendants all the nations on the earth will be blessed.  Bottom reason why the promise is verified once again to Abraham is obedience.  What a simple word, but so often hard to demonstrate in our Christian lives. 

The chapter ends will a listing of Abraham’s brother, Nahor’s children.  If you look into the listing you will see the name, Rebekah which will be addressed in Chapter 24. 

Father, thank you again for this marvelous unfolding of faith in the life of Abraham.  May we be able to demonstrate a grounded faith especially when it comes to our children and the plans you have for their lives.  May we be able to love them and relinquish them into your most capable hands.  Help us Lord to realize that you demand obedience, a simple word, but one that holds a powerful concept.  We love you, Lord.  Help us take this lesson and apply it to our daily Christian walk.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For next week:  Please read Chapter 23, The Passing of Sarah

There are only 20 verses in this chapter and yet this event, the passing of Sarah, is the subject of the entire content.  There is a lot to be gleaned about grief of a loved one in these few verses.  With God’s leading, please share your thoughts on your own experiences dealing with death and what God has taught you.

I will be sharing comments on these specific verses next week and additional thoughts on grief.   God bless, my friends and have an awesome week!