Just as God promised, Isaac, the long-awaited son, was born. Abraham and Sara must have been grateful parents, and they surely spent many days With Isaac, enjoying the blessings of God’s watchful care.

It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.” Abraham believed that God could raise the dead, and really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death. HEBREWS 11:17-19

    Although God had also promised that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, at that time it was possessed by others. These people lived by their own rules and in the name of religion did repulsive things; they even sacrificed their firstborn sons to please their gods. So when God asked Abraham to take his son, Isaac, to Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice, it wasn’t a total shock.

    Abraham’s trust in God, based on years of devotion, was so strong that he took Isaac to Moriah, built an altar, tied Isaac on the altar, and raised his knife, preparing to kill his son, fully confident that his God would bring Isaac back to life. God stopped Abraham, provided another sacrifice, and reaffirmed his promise. Abraham’s God didn’t require the sacrifice of first-horns, but he did want his people to believe in him and his power, to trust his promises, to depend on his care, and to obey his instructions. He wanted to know they were loyal, whether his commands made sense to them or not.

Reflection: Faith is always tested by crisis. God will ask whatever competes for our hearts to be laid on the altar as he seeks the best for our future, our growth, and our relationship with him.