The test what God put Abraham through is not an easy one. God commanded Abraham to offer his only son Isaac for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2). That was not something what Abraham accepted and reconciled with a long time ago. It was a spontaneous type of test, the test what will prove both Abraham’s trust and obedience and God’s faithfulness in His promises (Genesis 21:12).
The three day long journey of Abraham and his son Isaac to the land of Moriah is long enough to doubt or to strengthen a faith. However, Abraham remained faithful, he adhered to the promise of God: “for in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (see also Romans 9:7,8). Moreover, he assured his two servants that they will submit to God’s will and, both Abraham and Isaac, will come back.
Abraham shows exceptional type of faith and submission to God. He is certain that God will raise Isaac from the dead, because in Isaac God promised to call Abraham’s seed.
Scripture
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. -- Genesis 22:6 KJV
Observation
Though Abraham was fully prepared to slay his only son Isaac, he believed in the ultimate divinely-ordained substitutional sacrifice. He knew that “God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). That the “Lamb of God” must be offered by God himself to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), thus fulfill His eternal promise.
Our Lord Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world, your sins and my sins, and carried the cross made of wood on His shoulders, similarly “Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon his son“. On that day when Jesus Christ was crucified, God poured out His wrath into the cup of His anger and Jesus Christ drunk it for us. Same as Abraham, being prepared to sacrifice his son, “he took the fire in his hand, and a knife” and submitted himself to God’s will.
“And they went both of them together“. This is the journey of the Father and the Son. God took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Jesus Christ His Son, and He, God the Father led His Son to Calvary. Even though God has forsaken His Son on the cross as a sin-bearer, He never forsook Jesus Christ in His obedience to the will of His Heavenly Father. And God will never forsake His children whom He adopted through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
It was not the Son Jesus Christ alone who willingly died on the cross, nor the Father who sacrificed His only begotten Son, but “they went both of them together“. The Father with the Son and the Son with the Father – even as Abraham with his son Isaac went together (Genesis 22:6,8).
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- Do you have a type of faith like Abraham had?
- What makes you faithful to God’s will?
- Do you walk with God in obedience and submission to Him, like Abraham did?
Prayer
Our Heavenly Father, You are faithful and loving Father. We thank You that You have adopted us into Your family, so we may not perish, but have everlasting life. We thank You Lord Jesus for Your ultimate scarifies on our behalf. We pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith and will make us obedient and submissive to our Father who art in Heaven. May You walk with us Lord God, and we with you, bringing glory and honor to Your Kingdom.
We pray in Jesus Christ name. Amen
