Act by Faith

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Have you ever wondered what was running through Abraham's mind as he was taking Isaac up the side of the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice? Isaac, after all, was promised by the Lord as he came by the tent. Isaac, Abraham's off-spring, was the subject of laughter by Abraham and Sarah who were advanced in age. Now, God wants Abraham to sacrifice him?

The loss of a child is one of the most debilitating events in a parent's life as I've been told by experts. Abraham's answer to Isaac makes him sound as cool as a cucumber, only noting in short that God will provide. Was Abraham really that collected, or was his mind racing inside pleading that God, who gifted him with a son at a late age, gift him with a sacrifice that would be suitable? I don't think I could have pulled it off, but as the writer of Hebrews notes, Abraham moved higher "by faith."

God, however, will eventually lose his only Son to a sacrificial act of crucifixion. The sacrifice for his creation will be ultimately what saves us as his Son secures victory over death through a resurrection. God acts by faith for his creation. God is a faithful God who fulfilled his covenant.

Pray with me: Gracious God, Merciful Father, You delivered me, a poor, miserable sinner, through an act so great that it is hard to fathom. I give thanks to you for your grace and mercy to rescue me from my own sin and iniquity. I pray I have a measure of faith like that of Abraham when you call on me. In Christ's name, Amen.