Creator, Father, King #56

Now I know that you truly fear God.

ONE DAY, WHEN ISAAC was a young boy, God gave Abraham a shocking command: “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you” (Genesis 22:2).

God’s words were chilling and dreadful. Even today, although we know the end of the story, the words are disturbing to read. Imagine how Abraham must have felt, not knowing the outcome.

A million questions must have raced through his mind, not the least of which was how God would keep his promise to make Abraham into a great nation if Isaac died. Yet Abraham faithfully followed God’s command.

Abraham climbed the mountain, tied Isaac to an altar he constructed, and raised a sharp dagger. Suddenly, an angel called out to him: “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son” (Genesis 22:12).

What’s It Mean?

What are we to make of this fascinating story? First, it’s important to remember that God never tempts us to sin (James 1:13), but he does test our faith (Genesis 22:1). God is not cruel or sadistic. His plan for Abraham never involved sacrificing his son.

Isaac was the child of God’s promise, through whom he would bring forth the nation of Israel and bless the world (Genesis 12:2-3). God was testing Abraham’s devotion, and Abraham—in an astounding display of faith and commitment—proved he would sacrifice everything, even what he loved most, to God.

In your life, God will never tempt you to sin, but he might test your faith. He wants to reveal where your heart’s allegiance truly lies and show the depth of your commitment to him.

Is there anything you’re withholding from him right now? Is there any area of your life that you’re telling God, “You can have all of me except that—that part is mine”?

Don’t withhold any part of your life from God. Freely give your whole life to him in faith and worship. As today’s verse says, this is what it means to “truly fear God.”

Now What?

Read Genesis 22 and Hebrews 11:17-19 for the full picture of today’s story.

Did You Know?

Somehow, Abraham believed that both he and Isaac would return to his servants who traveled to the mountain with them, possibly an allusion to Abraham’s belief in God’s ability to raise someone from the dead (Genesis 22:5 and Hebrews 11:19).