Genesis 22:1-19

Key Verse: "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:17-18)

Abraham was tested by God. Though he did not know it, this was God’s intent from the beginning. God spoke to Abraham and told him to go and sacrifice his son upon the mountain. God knew the pain this would cause Abraham; Isaac was Abraham’s only precious son, and he was dearly loved by his father. At this point, Abraham had had several years to enjoy Isaac and keep him to himself; the boy could speak well, think for himself, and was old enough and strong enough to accompany his father on the journey into the mountains.

Abraham readily accepted God’s command from the beginning. When God called him, he answered, “Here I am.” When God told him to take Isaac onto the mountain, he did so after only thinking about it for a night. It must have been a difficult decision for Abraham, but he still trusted God and his promise and followed God’s command. He took Isaac, one of his servants, and the supplies for the sacrifice up the mountain.

On the way, there were many times when Abraham could have changed his mind and turned back. None was more difficult than when Isaac, his only son, asked his father one simple, innocent question: “where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Now Abraham could have responded in any number of ways. Instead, he chose to answer his son in a way that would bring focus to God. He said, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." Abraham trusted in God, and loved God, and through his answer he was able to share that with Isaac. It was also reassuring to Isaac, who trusted his own father and believed his words.

When they got to the place God had told him, Abraham prepared the sacrifice—even to the point of actually sacrificing his son. Before he could complete the act, though, an angel of the Lord spoke to him from heaven. He had passed God’s test, and that God knew that Abraham feared God. Then a ram appeared, caught in the brush by its horns and provided by God, and Abraham and Isaac completed the sacrifice and went down together. God renewed His promise, even swearing by himself that it would be done, because of Abraham’s obedience.

Abraham’s great faith astounds me. I do not possess this kind of love for God, that I would even give up my only child to Him; but Abraham did it. He was fully prepared to kill Isaac, when it came to it. However, his obedience began with his simple readiness to be called. He did not try to hide from God, and he accepted God’s command after only one night of deliberation. Abraham trusted God completely, and through that obedience we would later see how the world was blessed.

Even on the mountain, Abraham had faith in God. He did not understand this command, and yet he followed through, knowing God to be a just and reliable God. Though the walk was hard, and he was tempted many times to turn back, he kept on the path he was going. This was a test of love—we love God first, and our actions follow. Through our love for God and His for us, we can achieve anything. It is because of this love that we obey God. I myself need to learn to truly love God, so that I can obey even when I don’t like the commands I’m given (such as testimony writing), or when the command doesn’t make sense.

Also, through this Abraham and Isaac could both experience God on a deeper level. Abraham’s trust was renewed, and Isaac was able to see the depth of his father’s faith and the power of God and His sovereignty. Through our own trials, we are able to know God on a more profound level. I know that through my own struggles, I have come to know God more and more; and through knowing God better, I can grow in Him. Through my life testimony writing I could know my identity in Christ; through our “bad break-up” with out church, I was freed to come to UBF more regularly (especially on Sundays) and become truly involved with a body of Christ that deeply loves the Lord and has a heart to change our world; through my struggle with school, I know the strengths and weaknesses of my character and can improve and change myself. I am privileged to know Christ as I do and to continue to grow under His shepherd’s gaze.

Also, like Abraham’s obedience, my own obedience affects others; the buck does not stop here. Abraham’s faith and obedience led to him becoming a blessing to all nations; through his line would come the Christ, by whose death all people could receive eternal life and be reunited with God—the way we were meant to be. My own obedience can also become a blessing to others. My faith does not affect me alone. There is a song by nichole Nordeman that has these lines: “I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to leave a mark on things? I want to bring an offering; a child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.” In the same way, the actions that I take and the legacy I leave behind through serving, teaching, and being an example for others may be the only reflection of Christ that someone may ever see. I want to live that kind of life, the kind that affects the people around me in a positive way.

One Word: To grow in Christ and live as a blessing to others.