The account of God testing Abraham is one of the most profound in all of Scripture. Genesis 22:1–2 records:
“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”
God’s command was not meant for Isaac’s death but to test Abraham’s faith and obedience. Isaac was the child of promise, through whom God had said the covenant blessings would come (Genesis 17:19). Asking Abraham to offer Isaac seemed to contradict that promise, yet this test revealed whether Abraham trusted God completely, even when the command appeared impossible.
Abraham responded in faith. Hebrews 11:17–19 explains his reasoning:
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac… concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.”
This shows that Abraham believed God’s word so fully that he expected God to resurrect Isaac if necessary. The test demons/”>demonstrated absolute trust in God’s character and faithfulness.
At the last moment, God intervened. Genesis 22:12 records:
“And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’”
A ram was provided as a substitute (Genesis 22:13), foreshadowing Jesus Christ, the true Lamb of God who would die in our place. This account illustrates two key truths: faith requires total surrender, and God Himself provides the sacrifice for redemption.
