God tests Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham, obeying God’s command, takes Isaac to the designated mountain. Just as Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the Lord intervenes, stopping him. Instead, a ram caught in a thicket is provided as a substitute offering. It’s a powerful about faith, obedience, and divine provision. We just have to let go of self.
It reads in Genesis 22:1-13 EASY: Sometime later, God wanted to see if Abraham really trusted him. God said to him, ‘Abraham!’ Abraham replied, ‘Here I am.’ God said, ‘Take your son and go to the land of Moriah. Take your only son Isaac, whom you love. You must offer him to me there as a burnt offering. I will show you the mountain where you must do this.’ Abraham got up early the next morning. He made his donkey ready for the journey. He took two servants with him, and also his son Isaac. First, he cut wood for the fire to make the burnt offering. Then he started on his journey to the place that God had told him. On the third day of the journey, Abraham could see the place. It was not very far away. He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey. I will take the boy and we will go over there. We will worship God in that place and then we will come back to you.’ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering. He gave it to Isaac to carry. Abraham himself carried the fire and the knife. The two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to his father, Abraham. He said, ‘Father?’ Abraham replied, ‘Yes my son, what is it?’ Isaac replied, ‘I see that the fire and the wood are here. But where is the lamb so that we can make the burnt offering?’ Abraham replied, ‘My son, God himself will bring the lamb for the burnt offering.’ The two of them continued to walk on together. They came to the place that God told them. Abraham built an altar there. He put the wood on it, ready for the fire. Then he tied his son Isaac. He lifted him up and he put him on top of the wood on the altar. Then Abraham took hold of the knife. He was ready to kill his son as a sacrifice. But then the angel of the Lord spoke to Abraham from heaven. He said, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ Abraham replied, ‘Here I am.’ The angel said, ‘Do not hurt the boy! Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you respect God and you obey him. Isaac is your only son, and you agreed to offer him to me as a sacrifice. You did not try to keep him safe.’ Just then, Abraham looked round, and he saw a male sheep behind him. Its horns were caught in some bushes. So he went and he took hold of the sheep. Abraham killed the sheep on the altar as a burnt offering to God. In that way, he killed the sheep as a sacrifice, instead of his son.


Father God, I praise You and thank You for using this beautiful reminder in Your word
of Abraham and Isaac as such an astonishing foreshadowing of Christ’s death, burial, and Resurrection after three days. Sufferings, hardships and even people who do me wrong will be willing to turn away from wrong and be quick to obey Your leading, knowing that Your eternal purposes are wider than theirs and my limited perspective. I know we are called to live by faith and not by sight, signs, logic, or intuition. I believe Your Word and do not want anything or anyone in my life, to take Your place. I love You, thank You, Praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.