Abraham's Greatest Test
TBC Book 1, Chapter 16
Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17-19
Sometimes God brings special tests into a person’s life. Often the test involves a choice, and the choice one makes reveals whether that person really trusts God. One day, God brought such a test to Abraham.
“Abraham!” the Lord called.
“Here I am,” he replied.
"Abraham, I want you to take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. When you arrive there, I will direct you to a certain mountain. Then I want you to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering.”
This was one time that Abraham wished he had not heard the Lord’s voice. All night long he lay awake, wondering what he should do. Why is God asking me to do this? he thought. And what about His promise? The Lord had spoken clearly on that—he would keep his covenant through Isaac. That can only mean one thing. . . . thought Abraham.
He got up early the next morning and saddled his donkey. No one knew what he was planning to do. He called for his son Isaac and two of their servants. The servants were to cut enough wood for a burnt offering. Then they bundled the wood and set out toward Moriah.
They had traveled for three days when Abraham finally saw their destination in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” he told his servants, “while the boy and I go over there. The two of us will worship on that mountain. Then we will meet you back here.”
Abraham took the bundles of wood and placed them on Isaac’s shoulder. Then he took the fire and the knife, and they walked away. As they continued their journey, Isaac said, “Father, the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the offering?”
“God himself will provide the lamb, my son.” And Abraham really believed that. For the past three days, he had consoled himself by remembering that God’s promise to him would be fulfilled through Isaac. He reasoned that if God wanted him to kill his son, then surely God would raise Isaac from the dead.
When they reached the place God had designated, together Abraham and Isaac built an altar for the sacrifice. Carefully they arranged the wood on it. Then Abraham did something that shocked his son. He tied him up and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Abraham loved his son deeply, but he also loved the Lord. His hands shook as he took the knife and raised it in the air. Just as he was about to bring it down, the angel of the Lord called out. “Abraham! Abraham!” he called.
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Abraham looked up, and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. God had indeed provided the sacrifice. Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” From then on came this saying: “On the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will provide.”
After the offering was made, the angel of the Lord again called out to Abraham: “I swear by myself, the Lord, that because you have done this and not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars and the sand. They will indeed take possession of the cities of their enemies. And through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
Then Abraham and Isaac rejoined their servants, and they all returned to Beersheeba. As Isaac grew into manhood, he often recalled that day, and he learned from watching his father what it meant to love and fear the Lord.
TBC 16
Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17-19
Sometimes God brings special tests into a person’s life. Often the test involves a choice, and the choice one makes reveals whether that person really trusts God. One day, God brought such a test to Abraham.
“Abraham!” the Lord called.
“Here I am,” he replied.
"Abraham, I want you to take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. When you arrive there, I will direct you to a certain mountain. Then I want you to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering.”
This was one time that Abraham wished he had not heard the Lord’s voice. All night long he lay awake, wondering what he should do. Why is God asking me to do this? he thought. And what about His promise? The Lord had spoken clearly on that—he would keep his covenant through Isaac. That can only mean one thing. . . . thought Abraham.
He got up early the next morning and saddled his donkey. No one knew what he was planning to do. He called for his son Isaac and two of their servants. The servants were to cut enough wood for a burnt offering. Then they bundled the wood and set out toward Moriah.
They had traveled for three days when Abraham finally saw their destination in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” he told his servants, “while the boy and I go over there. The two of us will worship on that mountain. Then we will meet you back here.”
Abraham took the bundles of wood and placed them on Isaac’s shoulder. Then he took the fire and the knife, and they walked away. As they continued their journey, Isaac said, “Father, the fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the offering?”
“God himself will provide the lamb, my son.” And Abraham really believed that. For the past three days, he had consoled himself by remembering that God’s promise to him would be fulfilled through Isaac. He reasoned that if God wanted him to kill his son, then surely God would raise Isaac from the dead.
When they reached the place God had designated, together Abraham and Isaac built an altar for the sacrifice. Carefully they arranged the wood on it. Then Abraham did something that shocked his son. He tied him up and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Abraham loved his son deeply, but he also loved the Lord. His hands shook as he took the knife and raised it in the air. Just as he was about to bring it down, the angel of the Lord called out. “Abraham! Abraham!” he called.
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Abraham looked up, and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. God had indeed provided the sacrifice. Abraham named that place “The Lord Will Provide.” From then on came this saying: “On the mountain of the Lord, the Lord will provide.”
After the offering was made, the angel of the Lord again called out to Abraham: “I swear by myself, the Lord, that because you have done this and not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars and the sand. They will indeed take possession of the cities of their enemies. And through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
Then Abraham and Isaac rejoined their servants, and they all returned to Beersheeba. As Isaac grew into manhood, he often recalled that day, and he learned from watching his father what it meant to love and fear the Lord.
TBC 16
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"Take up the shield of faith, . . . the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
—Ephesians 6:16-17