The Gift of Faith

“Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” ~Genesis 22:5

These are the instructions that Abraham gave his servant before he went up the mountain to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. I must admit, that as a kid, I always asked myself, “What kind of God asks for a man to take the life of his son? And, what kind of man would be willing to sacrifice the life of his son for anyone?” In the verse is an inspiring lesson regarding faith in the promises of God that answers both of my childhood questions.

Paul wrote in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV) Paul uses Abraham as one of his examples of a faithful man. Abraham demonstrated perfect faith on the day he was to sacrifice Isaac, which goes way beyond the simple obedience in performing what God commanded. After considering all that God had promised regarding Isaac, and what he was now instructed to do, Abraham spoke the only outcome that made sense. “Stay here… while I and the boy go over there… We will come back…” He did not know how, but he did know that God fulfill His promises. Isaac had to survive this.

Faith is a spiritual blessing from God, and He honors those when exercise it. Faithful men glorify God, leading others to Him. God blesses the faithful with new eyes. It is said that, ‘seeing is believing’ in this world, but in God’s Kingdom ‘believing is seeing.’ Abraham could see and understand thing that the natural man could not. Abraham knew that the only act that would preserve his son was the on that would cost him his life. In faith Isaac would die. By faith, Isaac would live. Abraham didn’t know whether God would spare Isaac or raise him up again, but one way or another Isaac had to live on.

God tested Abraham for our sake. It was a testing of his metal to show us what Abraham was made of. Abraham proved to be wise and faithful. His words reveal that he passed the test before he ever arrived at the site of sacrifice. In perfect faith he spoke to his servant, “…we will come back to you.”

There is another inspiring example of faith and obedience to this story. Genesis continues, ‘Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up, and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and the wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.’ When they arrived at the place God had described and as Abraham began to bind up Isaac for the sacrifice, certainly Isaac could have fled in fear, but he did not. He trusted his father to the end, just like Jesus in obedience went to the cross.

(Originally published in LIFEGate – Richmond’s Christian Newspaper in 1996)