Genesis 22:14

New International Version (NIV)

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

For Meditation

Here they were: the worship party – the fully loaded donkey, two servants, the father and his son! Their early morning trip to mount Moriah had been hurriedly put together in the night. There was urgency to God’s command and Abraham knew Him well enough to obey without question; as we all should know and obey Christ. Some distance into their journey, Abraham separated the party. Isaac took over from the donkey and, alone with his father, they continued on the lonesome trail to the summit of the hill. Like a sword thrust through his father’s heart, Isaac suddenly spoke up. “The fire and the wood are here,” he said, “but where is the lamb for the offering (Gen. 22:7)?” Without missing a beat, Abraham responded, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son (Gen. 22:8).”

1. Wasn’t Abraham asking too much from his son to trust him on this one?
2. So, why did Isaac trust his father? Was he that dumb? How could he not suspect that something was fishy and that he could be the sacrificial lamb?
3. More than that, why did Isaac willingly allow his father to bind and lay him on the altar he had helped build, ready to be sacrificed (9)? A young man, full of energy and strength; why didn’t he run away? Two things come to mind.
4. First, having observed his father’s sincerity of faith and integrity of life, why wouldn’t Isaac absolutely trust Abraham? Doesn’t integrity beget trustworthiness? Isn’t that every father’s challenge?
5. Second, what doubt could Isaac entertain concerning Abraham’s testimony about God? Hadn’t he heard enough stories about God’s provision to his father in the past and His faithfulness to His promises? Were they not enough for Isaac to build his personal faith in God? Is that not every father’s responsibility to his children?

I pray that every father will live with unfeigned faith in Christ before their children, and walk with integrity, like Abraham did before Isaac. We owe it to them in their struggle to build personal faith in Christ Jesus.

So: May we walk circumspectly before our children, so that they can trust our confession of faith in Christ; and may our children learn from us, total surrender and trust in Him to provide, even in impossible situations.

Shalom