Trust and Obey

 “Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.”    Genesis 22:2

“Abraham, take your son….”  Fear crept into the father’s heart after only four words, but God continued, “Your only son, Isaac, whom you dearly love.”  The reminder of affection increased his apprehension. “Go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about”(Genesis 22:2).  The dread of every parent—the death of a child, and Abraham must do the deed himself.

We’re not told how Abraham felt or what he said, but we know what he did—without delay. “Early the next morning Abraham got up and set out for the place God told him about”(Genesis 22:3).  Abraham obeyed, and Abraham believed.  On the third day of the journey, he left his servants at base camp and instructed them to stay put.  “We will worship and then we will come back to you”(Genesis 22:5).  Two would go up, and two would come down.  Abraham knew God’s promise and trusted Him to do the impossible to keep it.  “Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again”(Hebrews 11:19).

Isaac noticed the wood, the fire, and the knife, but seeing no sacrifice, he asked his dad, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”   Abraham answered, “‘God himself will provide the lamb.’ And the two of them went on together”(Genesis 22:7-8).

Surely God would have them stop before they reached the top, but the summit appeared and the sacrifice approached.  In the ultimate act of obedience, the father bound his son and raised the blade—and then God halted him from heaven. Isaac’s life was spared, Abraham’s devotion was commended, and a ram in a jam ended up as the offering.

Abraham’s situation was unique to him, but the application is for us all.  We must be willing to surrender what we cherish and trust God to provide what we need. We should do what God says even if it doesn’t make sense, and we must take Him at His word even when we don’t see how things will work. 

Trust and Obey.  Hold nothing back.  God will provide.