OCTOBER 25, Genesis 22:1-13

God tempted Abraham. The ‘temptation’ here is not what you think. You must understand that God did not tempt him to sin. Rather, God asked him to do something very hard, very difficult, to test him to prove if he really loved God.

What was this hard thing God asked of Abraham? It was to offer up his son. Isaac was his only son (since Ishmael was no longer living with him) whom he loved more than anything else. He was also one that Abraham had waited for more than twenty years since God first promised him of the gift of a baby. How could Abraham kill this promised child with a knife in his own hand?

God told Abraham to take Isaac to a mountain which took 3 days to reach. He had three days to think about it, to ask questions. In his mind, he must have thought, “How can my descendants be as many as the stars in heaven if I kill my son?” “Maybe the Lord will raise Isaac from the dead if I must kill him”. Many thoughts raced in his mind. He could also change his mind and go back home. Did he return home? He did not.

When he saw the mountain, he left his servants and went on alone with Isaac. They set up the firewood and Isaac asked his father a touching question–what about the lamb to be sacrificed. What was Abraham’s reply? “The Lord will provide.” This short answer tells us a lot of Abraham’s faith and trust in God.

Amazingly, Isaac was willing to be tied as a sacrifice. When Abraham raised his knife to kill him, the angel of the Lord called to Abraham, and stopped him from killing Isaac. The angel said, “Now I know that thou fearest God.” Abraham had shown how he had feared and loved God.

God had tested Abraham’s love for Him with the most precious earthly possession – his son. And Abraham chose God. Abraham loved God above all, and he obeyed, although he could not understand it.

How much do you love God? Think for a minute…. do you love Him? Do you love Him all the time? Ask God to give you grace in your hearts to love Him more.

Thought: Abraham showed his love to God. How do you show yours?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for this wonderful example I see in Abraham. Help me to love You more, not just say it only, but to show it with action. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.