Testing

Genesis 22 confronts us with one of Scripture's most challenging narratives: God's command for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. This passage isn't about God desiring human sacrifice—He explicitly condemns that practice—but about revealing what truly occupies first place in our hearts. When God asks Abraham to surrender 'your son, your only son, whom you love,' He's exposing whether anything has become more important than our relationship with Him. The three-day journey to Mount Moriah becomes a profound test of faith, where Abraham must choose between his beloved son and his trust in God's character. What emerges is a stunning portrait of faith that knows God so intimately that it can trust Him even when nothing makes sense. Abraham's declaration that 'God will provide' becomes both prophecy and personal conviction. The imagery is unmistakable: Isaac carrying wood up the mountain foreshadows Christ carrying His cross; the three-day journey mirrors Christ's resurrection; the ram caught in thorns points to the Lamb of God who would ultimately be provided. We discover that God's testing isn't for His benefit but for ours—to reveal the depth of our trust and to deepen our knowledge of His faithful character. The blessing that follows Abraham's obedience reminds us that when we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we position ourselves to receive His abundant provision in ways we cannot yet imagine.