Abraham and Isaac

Abraham had waited twenty-five years for God to fulfill His promise of a son. When Isaac was finally born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, he became the joy of their lives and the carrier of God's covenant promises. Through Isaac, God had promised to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars. Everything Abraham hoped for was wrapped up in this miracle child. Then God gave a command that seemed to contradict everything He had promised.

The scripture says, 'Some time later God tested Abraham.' The Lord said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.' This was the most agonizing command imaginable. How could God ask Abraham to kill the son through whom He promised to build a nation? How could the God of life command murder? How could the giver of promises ask Abraham to destroy the very means of their fulfillment?

Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took two servants and his son Isaac, split wood for the burnt offering, and set out for the place God had told him about. The text gives no indication that Abraham hesitated, argued with God, or delayed obedience. His immediate response demonstrated the depth of his faith. According to Hebrews, Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, since in a sense he had already received Isaac back from death—born to a barren, elderly woman.

On the third day of the journey, Abraham saw the place in the distance. He left the servants behind, saying, 'We will worship and then we will come back to you.' Notice the plural 'we'—Abraham believed both he and Isaac would return. Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac's shoulders—a poignant foreshadowing of Christ carrying His cross. Isaac, likely a young man rather than a small child since he carried the wood, asked his father, 'The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?'

Abraham's answer was profound in its faith and its prophecy: 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' They continued walking together. When they reached the place God had indicated, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood. Then, in what must have been the most difficult moment of his life, he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. Isaac, strong enough to resist, submitted to his father's will. Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

But the angel of the Lord called out from heaven, 'Abraham! Abraham!' He answered, 'Here I am.' The angel said, 'Do not lay a hand on the boy. 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 saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. He took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. God had indeed provided the sacrifice, just as Abraham had declared.

Abraham named that place 'The Lord Will Provide,' and to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.' The angel called to Abraham a second time and renewed God's covenant promises: because Abraham had not withheld his son, God would surely bless him and make his descendants as numerous as the stars and the sand. This story foreshadows God the Father who would not spare His own Son but would offer Him as a sacrifice for the sins of the world—providing the ultimate Lamb on a mountain not far from where Abraham offered Isaac.