Yesterday was Father’s Day, a special day to celebrate and reflect on the value God places on the role of fatherhood in family and societal life. Abraham in Genesis 22 is an amazing example of a godly man, influencing his son, yet not taking his eyes off of his heavenly Father in the process. He understood even in this most definitive “chapter” in his life that he needed to reflect the nature and character of God to his child.
This passage, often called the “sacrifice of Isaac,” is perhaps better called “the testing of Abraham.” No physical sacrifice ever takes place (though mentally and spiritually Abraham does so, according to Hebrews 11:17). Rather, it is the patriarch’s character and allegiance to his God that is on examination. The end result is that Abraham passed the test with “flying colors.”
How did he do that? What did he have within him that made for such a godly father and man?
First, he showed faithful obedience (vv. 1-3). God tested Abraham to confirm and strengthen him, not to corrupt and weaken him (the Devil’s purposes). When God cried out for Abraham’s attention and gave His command, He found Abraham’s response to be swift and obedient, without argument or hesitation. In a sense, God was asking Abraham to show Him that he was willing to do for his heavenly Father, the maker of the universe, what the lost, pagan world was willing to do for their false “gods” (sacrifice their children to prove their commitment). It was a test of the heart, of His allegiance and willingness to put God first, even before this “son of promise.” You see, obedience is not just measured in what you give to God, but also in what you keep for yourself. Abraham understood this, and was willing to obey God no matter what the cost in relationships, possessions or comfort. He put God first.
Second, Abraham demonstrated straight priorities (vv. 4-5). When he, Isaac and the two servants arrived at their foothills of Mt. Moriah, he declared two important things. First, the purpose of all of this was to worship God. He was headed up that mountain with his son to “bow the knee” to the Almighty, to express his love and devotion to His Creator and Sustainer. He was able to understand that even this experience was ultimately about the worth of God and His own willingness to keep it centered in his life. Second, he expressed the hope and belief that both would return down the hill to be reunited with these servants. He no doubt noted that Mt. Moriah was known as the place “where the LORD provides or appears.” Believing that would happen, he anticipated their reunion. Abraham had learned in other experiences that when he tried to “protect” his family he instead got everyone in trouble; on the other hand, when he put God first, then his heavenly Father took care of all their needs.
Finally, he evidenced simple trust (vv. 6-8). Please note I said simple–not easy–trust, for trust for many of us gets harder as we get older. But not for Abraham! He learned to believe God, and was able to exemplify that before his son to the degree that Isaac was able also to trust God with the end result of this ’sacrifice.” Isaac was reassured by his father that God would provide the sacrifice necessary, and for him, that was enough. They were in this “together,” bound to each other. Ultimately Abraham knew that only God could provide for him what was needed and he was willing to trust God to do what only God Himself could do. By getting to know God over the 25 years of their relationship–through thick and thin–he had come to know that God ALWAYS kept His word and that he, Abraham, could rely completely and without hesitation, on Him. The writer of Hebrews (11:19) goes so far as to tell us that Abraham had already reasoned the solution out: my God is so big, so great that if He truly wants me to sacrifice my son as a demonstration of my obedience, then He will show His truthfulness by raising young Isaac from the dead! Now that’s a big God living in the live of a godly man.
So let’s learn from Abraham how we too can live a life for our Lord, even in the most trying of circumstances. And may God grant us this Father’s Day the privilege of reflecting the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that our children, and others we influence, will see Him just as clearly in our lives.
