We left Abraham in a good place at the end of chapter 21. The promise of a son and heir had been fulfilled, and he was busy putting down literal and figurative roots in the land that God has promised to him.

It is almost shocking then, to come to this chapter and find that God’s greatest test for Abraham is still to come. With the benefit of hindsight, knowing that God spared Isaac, we can read through this chapter in comfort, but for Abraham it must have taken immense faith in God to obey this command.

Hebrews 11:19 tells us that Abraham believed that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead – he must have believed this if he expected God to fulfil the promise of making his descendants numerous as the stars. Yet even so, he would still have to be the one that struck the blow that killed his own son.

It seems brutal, yet child sacrifice was common among Canaanite religions. Abraham was not less willing than his pagan neighbours to surrender his dearest thing to God, but God did not require Isaac’s life, only Abraham’s faithful obedience. God saw the condition of Abraham’s heart before the knife fell.

This episode in Abraham’s life serves two purposes. Firstly, it confirms Abraham’s utter obedience to the Lord, both in God’s sight, and in Isaac’s. Secondly, it allows God to foreshadow his own great sacrifice – the lamb of God that would come to take away the sins of the world.

Through their time on the mountain, both Abraham and Isaac learned that it is God who provides. He was Jehovah Jireh for Abraham and Isaac then, and he still is for us today. But notice the context of God’s provision – Abraham’s total obedience and faith – and what it is that he provides. The pinnacle of God’s provision for us is Jesus, our saviour, who takes our place so that we do not have to pay the price for our sinfulness. Glory to God!

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH