Faith on Trial
Genesis 22:1–19
I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you. Genesis 22:5

As Abraham made plans to obey God and sacrifice his son, Isaac, he not only exercised faith, but worked with it, pondering the situation, trying to figure out what was happening. I think Abraham was puzzling over the problem. How can God be true to his promise if I sacrifice Isaac? he was asking. What is God going to do to remain a God of honor?

This was what Abraham was doing during the three days it took to reach the region of Moriah. The reason I think this is that the passage may suggest that he solved it on the way to Moriah. We are told that when Abraham finally saw the place in the distance, he said to his accompanying servants, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

“I and the boy will come again.” Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac, as God had commanded him. But by this time he was sure that the outcome would not be the end of Isaac. What had Abraham come to believe? The author of Hebrews tells us: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back” (Heb. 11:17–19). Abraham had faith to expect a resurrection.

God did provide a resurrection, figuratively speaking (v. 19). But it was not until the last minute, and not before Abraham had demonstrated his total willingness to offer up his son.

Here was proof of how much a mere man would do for love of God. But I am sure you see how this incident is also a pageant of how much more God would do as an expression of his love for fallen men and women. Abraham was only asked to sacrifice his son; he did not actually have to do it. Even if he had, there was only a physical death involved. But when the time came for God, the heavenly Father, to sacrifice his Son, it was not a mere physical death; it was a spiritual death, one that achieved redemption for sinners. When God’s hand was raised at Calvary, there was no one to call out, “Stay your hand. Do not harm the boy.” When God offered up his sacrifice, the hand that was poised above Christ fell. Jesus died. Through that death, God brought life to all who trust in Christ’s sacrifice. Hallelujah!

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.