After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you” (Genesis 22:1–5).
God promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky through his son Isaac. Then he commands the unthinkable: offer his son and only heir to his promise as a sacrifice. Early the next morning Abraham begins the journey with Isaac to the mountain God will show him, confident that God can be trusted and will provide. The angel of the Lord spares him from harming Isaac and a ram is provided in his place.
It’s an extreme example but God’s test of Abraham reminds us of the danger of valuing God’s blessings over God himself.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
Gracious God, you are our provider. Every good thing in our lives is because of your grace, not because we deserve it or are entitled to it. The words ‘Thank You’ will always fall short.
