By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Abraham – Faith Offers Everything To God

Abraham and Sarah were blessed with a child in their old age. There can be no language to adequately describe the incredible joy of aged parents looking into the face of their promised son who could not have been born without the divine power of God. The miracle of birth was only made possible through the faith of Abraham and Sarah and the will of the Lord. What an incredible experience. Every day, watching Isaac grow into an adolescent and young man would be an amazing experience. There could never be a day that was not a day of wonder. Abraham and Sarah had a son who was beyond exceptional because he was a son of promise made by the grace of God. Life for the aged couple was full of caring for Isaac.

The faith of Abraham had been proven time and again. There was a deep devotion evident in the life of this man of God that no one could doubt, and yet there was another test God would put before Abraham. The Lord came to Abraham and told him to do the most remarkable thing. What God asked of Abraham made no sense compared to the righteousness of a holy God. Abraham was told to kill the boy for whom he had waited 25 years. Despite how confusing that order was and how senseless it seemed on its face, Abraham acted like a man who believed that God was right.

Early in the morning, following the word of the Lord, Abraham took Isaac and two servants for the three-day journey as God prescribed. Arriving at the place, Abraham told the young men to remain with the animals while he and Isaac went to the mountain to worship before returning. Abraham alone knew what he planned on doing. According to the word of the Lord, he was to take the son of his old age, his promised son, and his beloved son and offer him as a burnt offering. This was the fulfillment of the plan of God that through Isaac, his seed would be blessed. Abraham knew the promise of God that in Isaac, his seed would be called and that God never lied. He obeyed.

The spirit of Abraham did not doubt the power and word of God. He did not argue with the Lord about what was commanded or try to dissuade the Lord from requiring such an incredible sacrifice. God tested Abraham to see if he was willing to give all to please the will of the Lord. It made no sense to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. But Abraham obeyed because he trusted in the providence of God to make things possible.

Abraham took Isaac to the place appointed by God, bound him upon the altar, stretched out his, and took the knife to slay his son. The Angel of the Lord stayed the hand of Abraham from killing his only begotten son. Abraham obeyed because he believed that killing Isaac was of no consequence. After all, if God had the power to create Isaac in the dead womb of Sarah, the Lord would have been able to raise Isaac from the womb of death. There was nothing that Abraham would not do for the Lord. His faith was affirmed through his works.

God does not require parents to offer their children as burnt offerings. He does require obedience like that of Abraham, who, when instructed to do the impossible, never hesitated. Too often, people want to argue with God instead of acting in faith. The test of Abraham showed he was willing to give all for God. Are we willing to give all for Christ? Faithfulness requires complete obedience. Faith offers everything to God. If God spoke to me as He did Abraham, what would I do? May our hearts be faithful like Abraham.