The "Almost" Sacrifice of Isaac

The story of Abraham and Isaac is power filled.  To me it depicts the testimony of true faith, trust, and knowledge of who God is.  Abraham was a man who heard the voice of the Lord and never once flinched at the promises that God made to him.

Hebrews 11:8-12

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

Many might say that Abraham struggled, feared, or doubted when God asked him to take Isaac and lay him up as a sacrifice.  Many theologians might say that he was fearful and must have doubted during the time when he took his only son and laid him up as a sacrifice.

Genesis 22:2

 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Abraham was a man who knew His Lord, His word, and His will. The Will of the Lord for Abraham's life was steadfast on his heart.  He never once considered that the Promise of God made to him could not be accomplished.  His mind, heart, and thoughts were steadfast focused on the Lord.

Genesis 17:21

But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.

So when God tested Abraham for the word sake to truly know if Abraham trusted in the promises of the Lord, I believe Abraham was eager to do the Lord's will.

Hebrews 11:17-19

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,  of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

There was no hesitation on Abraham's part.  He knew God wasn't going to let Him down.  He knew God is a friend and not the enemy.  He knew the voice of His Father.  He BELIEVED and never once doubted.  He even made mention to his servant of what the end result would be:

Genesis 22:5

 He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."

This, my friends, is a man who knows His Lord.  He knew in his heart what the Lord was going to do and knew that it was "WORSHIP" to obey the Lord and trust in Him. 

As they are approaching the mountain, Isaac asks "where is the lamb?" and Abraham answers with confidence saying: 

Genesis 22:8

  Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.


Abraham still acting and working in faith bound his son, laying  him on the wood and lifting up his knife was about to "sacrifice" Isaac.   I am sure in his heart he kept hearing the words and promises of God.  They must have been repeating over and over in his mind and he was probably speaking them out of his mouth.  It doesn't say this in the bible, but I know this is what we would do in prayer or in place of confession repeating the word of God.  So I am guessing Abraham was praising, praying unto the Lord while binding his and about to stab him.  When we speak forth the words of God, we are declaring with our mouths those words He, the Lord has spoken to our hearts, which is supernaturally prophetic. 


The end result of this act of faith is that God DID provide and it was accounted to Abraham for righteousness and he was called a friend of God.

Galatians 3:6

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

and 

James 2:23

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

The Lord is looking for those who have the faith and the trust Abraham had.  He knew the heart of God. He trusted in the goodness of God.  He knew God would NEVER, EVER let Him down!!

How do we get to a place where we can trust in the Lord just as Abraham did?  We need to fill our minds with the words of the Lord, and from the fellowship we have with Him.  We need to not fill our minds and heart with unbelief of the world.  Unbelief and ungodliness is so prevalent in today's society.  This unbelief can choke any faith we may have in God.  If we turn on the news, there's unbelief!  If we go to work there is unbelief!  If we watch TV there is unbelief!  So how do we tune out all of this unbelief?  We need to be a people who are willing to lay down those things that can easily ensnare us by reducing those things in our lives that may bring unbelief. 


I encourage you to look at your lives and figure out how you can eliminate weights of unbelief, those weights that hold you down from trusting God like Abraham did.  If it is to lay down some of the news you are listening to; To not watch movies that portray people dying of cancers; To stop speaking words of lack, doubt, death; etc...  You will know by the Holy Spirit what you need to drop or limit.  He will let you know.  Remember don't let anything bring guilt and condemnation and know that you are 

FREE IN CHRIST