Genesis 22:1 – 18 “Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to worship, and then we will return to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac. He himself carried the fire and the sacrificial knife, and the two of them walked on together.
Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” “Here I am, my son,” he replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” said Isaac, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar, atop the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. Just then, the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. And Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. So to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
This is a long passage but every part of it is necessary. God had promised Abraham to give him a son in Abraham’s old age and God had done so. Now God is testing Abraham to see if Abraham will give up his most precious possession – that same son. God orders Abraham to go to Mount Moriah and sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham doesn’t hesitate, even though he loves Isaac dearly. The next morning Abraham, Isaac, and two servants set out, traveling for three days. When they reach the place God has chosen, Isaac carries the wood while Abraham carries the fire (most likely in a clay pot) and the sacrificial knife. By now Abraham must be shaking and in tears as he ties up Isaac and places him on the altar. But just before Abraham proceeds to slaughter Isaac, God stops him and shows him a ram that he can slaughter instead. Abraham joyfully unties Isaac and sacrifices the ram that God has miraculously provided instead.
How does forgiveness enter into this story? 1. At no point does Abraham appear to have second thoughts or to argue with God; Abraham simply obeys. There is never any indication that Abraham becomes annoyed with God for putting him through all this agony. Abraham trusts God and obeys Him without any resentment.
2. Just as Abraham trusts God, so Isaac trusts Abraham and does not resent him for Abraham nearly killing him.
APPLICATION: Many times God may ask us to give Him our Isaac – our dearest possession, whatever that might be. Perhaps the thing most dear to us is our family, our spouse, our profession, our home, or some other worthy thing. Abraham had to obey blindly, trusting God. When Abraham and Isaac climbed Mount Moriah, Abraham fully expected to come down from that mountain alone, but he obeyed anyway. It was Abraham’s obedience and his refusal to resent God that opened the way for incredible blessings, blessings that are still in evidence today.
How would you react if God asked you to give up whatever is dearest to you? Would you obey, trusting that God knows better than you do, or would you withdraw, become offended and angry, and resent God? Has something of the sort already happened to you? Have you become so angry with God that you cannot even pray? Are you convinced that God really hates you? It’s time for you to forgive God.
PRAYER: Father God, help everyone who reads this to understand that you are good and loving and that if you ask us to give up our dearest possessions, we can still trust you. Help us not to resent you for the things and people we have lost – for lost employment, homes, friends, or relatives. Help us not to resent you but to forgive you and to trust that you still love us and are working for our good. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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