One of the hardest experiences is to receive something extraordinary and then either misplace it or have it taken away. We see this type of thing happening to Abraham. However, we will also see just how strong his faith had become. As the Hebrew writer penned, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb. 11:17-19).
Read Genesis 21:1-22:19
We have already noted in the Scripture reading challenge that God keeps His promises. God promised Abraham that they would have a child and eventually a great nation would be attributed to them. At the age of 100, Abraham and Sarah gave birth to their son. God had kept his promise. It may have taken 35 years in our time, but God keeps his promises. God took thousands of years between the fall of man and the death, burial, and resurrection to fulfill the plan of salvation. It’s also been around 2,000 years since Christ’s resurrection and of expectations for his return. However, God spoke to Isaiah, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaha 55:8-9).
These higher thoughts and ways of the Lord are demonstrated in the following chapter. God asked Abraham to now sacrifice his only son that he had long waited for, and he did it! He took Isaac on a trip to Mount Moriah, which some consider being Mount Calvary where Jesus was crucified. Isaac knew something was different since they didn’t have a sacrifice. Abraham, calmly said, God would provide a sacrifice. He was aware that either God would provide an alternative or that he would raise Isaac back to life because through Isaac they would have a great nation. Abraham knew by this time, God keeps His promises. God did provide an alternative sacrifice that day and thousands of years after. We should pay the penalty for our sin, but Christ is our substitute. He took our place. He paid our price. Thank you, Jesus!
Jeremy Kamer Ministries 