Abraham had never been so nervous! As he walked up that lonely mountain he looked at his son who was ahead of him carrying the wood. “If he only knew what was about to happen,” Abraham thought to himself. For three whole days Abraham had been playing the painful thought of killing his son over and over again in his mind. Now, as they were making the long trek up to the top of the mountain, he felt his heart breaking as he looked at his son, Isaac’s words still ringing in his ears, “Father… look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering.”
As they finally reached the summit Abraham watches as his son puts down the wood. Isaac starts looking around for the lamb only to realize that there is no lamb there. It’s hard for Abraham to look into his son’s eyes after it has finally dawned on Isaac that he is actually the sacrifice. His heart pounding, Abraham hurriedly constructs an altar and places the wood in order. Almost mechanically, he forces himself to then bind up his son and then gently place him on that altar. Perspiration dripping down off of his brow, he grips the knife with his sweaty palm to slay his son.
As we think about this scene we wonder how a man could even consider doing such a horrific thing. How could Abraham do this? How could he take the life of the one he loved so much? After waiting twenty-five years to have Isaac, how could he then take a knife and sacrifice him? There is no human explanation for what Abraham did, but we do have a spiritual answer in the book of Hebrews:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 11:17-19
While someone who knows nothing about God would look at Abraham’s actions and declare them to be utterly foolish, those who live by faith see those actions as extraordinarily wise. If God has made a promise, He is going to keep that promise. No matter how foolish God’s plan may seem His plan will always work. No matter what the personal cost may be, men of faith who trust in God’s wisdom will follow God’s plan all the way to the end.
But do you really believe in God’s wisdom? Do we believe in God’s wisdom when it’s difficult? Do we believe in God’s instructions to “turn the other cheek” when we’re being slapped on the face? Do we think God is wise when He tells us to feed our hungry enemies after they’ve fed us with nothing but hurt and abuse? Do we believe God knows what is best when “till death you do part” is being severely tested?
God is wise… sure sounds good in theory! It sounds good when things are nice and easy. We like to walk in the steps of our father Abraham when the path of faith is enjoyable and pleasant. We like to follow his example of faith when it’s smooth sailing. But what happens when the road gets rough and the waters become choppy? Do we continue trusting in God’s way when we’re being knocked around, or do we retreat to the easy path?
But we haven’t finished this story from Abraham’s life yet. For those that don’t know how the story ends, we should put your mind at ease; God prevented Abraham from slaying Isaac. The Angel of the LORD declared, “now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:12) God never intended that Abraham should kill his son. At the beginning we are told that this was a test God had prepared to see what was in Abraham’s heart (Genesis 22:1). And Abraham passed the test.
But what about you? Have you passed the tests in your life? Do you realize that God at times places tests before you? Have you considered that the challenges you face in the flesh have spiritual dimensions to them? Every day that we live, every challenge we face is just another opportunity for God to see what kind of faith is in us. Though the circumstances we face change constantly, the choice is always the same: it’s God’s way verses man’s way; the hard way verses the easy way; it’s the way of sacrifice verses the way of convenience; the way of faith verses the way of doubt. The choice is up to us. We must choose which way we take. May God ever help us to trust in His wisdom!
~ by David Maxson