Abraham Tested by God: Genesis 22:1-19
One interesting story in the Old Testament is about Abraham and his son Isaac. Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac, their only son, was born. God had promised Abraham that he would have a son with Sarah even though she was past child bearing age. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations and that through his child with Sarah the nations of the earth would be blessed.
One day God made an unusual request. He asked Abraham to take his son, his only son, whom he loved, to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains. Abraham took Isaac and two other men and traveled to Moriah. When they were close, Abraham instructed the men to stay and said that Isaac and he would go and worship and return back to them.
Abraham knew that God had told him to sacrifice Isaac, but he had faith to know that he and Isaac would return. Did he think that God would raise Isaac from the dead after the sacrifice?
And why would God ask him to sacrifice, kill his only son, that was the promised child? Abraham trusted God that He would return Isaac back to him even after death.
As Abraham and Isaac were walking towards the place where the sacrifice would be held, Isaac asked his father “where is the sacrificial lamb for the burnt offering?” Isaac had no idea that he was the sacrifice! Abraham replied and said, ”My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” After Abraham built the altar and placed the wood on it, he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood.
The Bible doesn’t say if Isaac resisted or complied, but He must have trusted his father to be willing to be tied up and placed on the altar. Abraham takes a knife and is about to kill his only son, when an angel from God calls him from heaven and tells him not to kill his son. He tells Abraham that God now knows that he completely trusts God and he is willing to do what God asks him, even to sacrifice his only son. God was testing Abraham to see if he honored Him more than his promised son. Abraham proved himself and God provided a ram whose horns were caught in the thicket. Abraham frees his son, sacrifices the ram and then they both return back to the men and then back home.
In this story, Abraham is a picture of God our Father and Isaac, a picture of Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, who ultimately dies to take away our sins. God tested Abraham to see if he would give up his only son, the one he loved dearly, to follow what God had instructed him. But, Abraham had great faith to believe that even if he killed Isaac, God would raise him from the dead. So when God the Father sent Jesus His Son, He was willing to give His only begotten Son “that whosoever believed in Him, would not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) And Jesus was willing to go to the cross and suffer to pay for our sins. Jesus knew He would rise from the dead after three days and three nights, but He also understood the pain, suffering, and separation from His Father that He would have to endure. If Abraham was willing, God was willing.
God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through his offspring. Jesus Christ came from the lineage of Abraham and Isaac. Jesus came and became our Savior and paid the price for our sins. When we receive Him as our Lord and Savior, He adopts us as children of God and as Galation 3:29 says, “and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.”
Although God had asked Abraham to make this huge sacrifice, God would never ask us anything that goes against His written word. God would never ask us to kill our child or anyone to prove our faith. No matter how much faith we would have even to believe God would raise that person from the dead, we must follow God’s Word. God’s Word no longer asks for animal sacrifices, but asks us to believe in His Son Jesus and receive Him as our Savior because Jesus was the final sacrifice to pay for our sins, past, present, and future.
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Personal Development Tip of the week:
At church this past week my pastor shared 5 things to remember when you are worried or anxious in your life that I wanted to share with you today.
The 5 things are…
Remember God’s love and cares for you
God is always with you
Align your life with God’s Word
Instead of panicking pray
Instead of worrying worship
These are great reminders of whenever you are going through a season of worry or anxiety in our life that you can turn to God and He can help you through whatever you are going through.
Lastly remember, whatever you focus on you are going to feel more of in your life so if you change your focus from worry to getting into God’s word you can change how you feel.
Question for you? What do you do when you feel worried or anxious in your life?
Prayer for the week:
Whenever I feel afraid, I think of You and Your promises to protect me. You said that You would cover me and keep me safe like an eagle who protects her young. I don’t have to be afraid of bad news, illnesses, or sudden dangers because You keep me safe in Jesus name, Amen.
PS. If you would like to support us consider checking out www.litwithprayer.com and picking up our devotional prayer journal to our new pieces of Christian-based Jewelry.
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be the leader of your life and forgive you of all your sins, this is the right time to act. Pray this simple prayer and believe it in your heart: “Dear God, Your Word says that You loved me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me. I want to be saved and have all my sins forgiven, past, present, and future. Forgive me now as I receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. You promised me salvation and an abundant life. I believe and receive Your free gift. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me grow stronger in You each day, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.” (John 3:16)
Abraham Tested by God