Abraham walked with God for many years.  There were times he stumbled but he got up again, turned to God and worshiped Him.  Isaac was the one heir whom God had given him.

  God gave Abraham the test… spelling it out.
(NASB) Genesis 22:2 “He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I tell you.”

  Abraham’s response of obedience
Abraham got up early the next morning and saddled his donkey.  He had two servants come with him and Isaac.  He also took split wood for a burnt offering.  He began a three day journey to the place God told him.  Abraham saw the mountain where he was to offer his sacrifice.  He told the two servants to stay there with the donkey.  Taking Isaac and the wood for the burnt offering, father and son walked on.

Isaac had a logical question, “My father!”  “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”  (Genesis 22:7)
Abraham’s wise reply: “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  (Genesis 22:8)

They reached the place where God had told him to offer a burnt sacrifice.  Abraham built an altar, prepared the wood, bound his son Isaac, and laid him on top of the wood.  Then Abraham did the most difficult thing, he raised his hand holding a knife to kill his son.

The angel of the Lord called from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!”  Again, Abraham was quick to say, “Here I am.”  (Genesis 22:11)

Abraham was told not to kill Isaac, passing God’s test.  God’s test proved Abraham’s reverential fear of the living God… proven by Abraham not withholding his only beloved son, Isaac, from God.  (Genesis 22:12)

Abraham saw a ram close by; caught in the bushes by his horns… the ram became the burnt offering which God provided.

Abraham gave that place a name, “The Lord Will Provide.”

The Lord promised to bless the nations of the earth through the Seed which came through Abraham – the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Take it to heart ~

The Lord will bless you as you turn to Him.

He will bless you when you trust Him
for the tests He brings into your life.

It is God’s test, how are you responding?