Genesis 22 records Abraham’s faithful trust in God, a powerful example for us, and I see the Father everywhere. God spoke to Abraham and said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love – Isaac – and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” v. 2. Abraham obeyed. He sacrificed his son whom he loved because God asked him; he sacrificed his heart. When he and Isaac and the 2 servants and donkey reached a certain point, Abraham told the servants to stay while they went to worship. 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 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. v. 6-8.

Abraham built the altar, arranged wood on it, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. As he was about to slay his son, God stopped him. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” Then Abraham saw the ram God provided for the sacrifice he and Isaac would give to God and Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. v. 14.

The Lord did provide. Abraham did withhold nothing from God. He gave God his only son in his heart trusting God. Abraham’s love for God and trust in Him stands forever as a witness for us of what faithful love is…nothing withheld from God.

God never intended for Abraham to slay Isaac as a burnt offering to Him. He intended to know his heart and He found a heart faithful to Him. God provides. God is faithful. He provided the One sacrifice that would forever reconcile us to Him. He provided His Son, His only Son whom He loves for us. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Son, the only Son of God, willingly gave Himself for us because His heart is faithful. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit provide and show us what true love is. Jesus’ sacrifice provided what Isaac’s death never could which is why the Father didn’t require that of Abraham; and which is why they did require that of themselves.

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17.