Genesis 22:1-19 is one of the most well-known and weighty passages in the Old Testament. Abraham is asked by God to sacrifice his son Isaac—the son of promise. It is a story of faith, obedience, and God’s provision. But more than that, it points us to the ultimate sacrifice God Himself would provide through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Faith Is More Than Belief
Abraham believed God when he was called to leave his homeland (Genesis 12). He believed God when he was promised descendants as numerous as the stars. But Genesis 22 reveals that faith is not just belief—it is belief in action. Faith is trusting God enough to obey Him, even when we don’t understand.
When God told Abraham to offer Isaac, Abraham surely wrestled with fear, doubt, and grief. Yet, he obeyed. He trusted that God would somehow fulfill His promise, even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham’s faith was not passive; it was demonstrated through his obedience.
God Tests Our Faith to Strengthen It
God does not tempt us to sin, but He does test our faith to refine and strengthen it. Abraham had experienced smaller tests before this great one. He had failed at times—lying about Sarah in Egypt, attempting to secure the promise through Hagar—but those failures prepared him. When this ultimate test came, Abraham was ready. God was pruning and shaping him all along the way.
We often want faith to be comfortable, but true faith grows through trials. God tests our hearts to show us what we cling to. Is there anything you are withholding from God? Abraham held nothing back—not even his beloved son.
God Will Provide
As Abraham raised the knife, God intervened. He provided a ram caught in the thicket—a substitute for Isaac. Abraham named the place “The Lord Will Provide.”
This was not only God’s provision for Abraham but a foreshadowing of the greatest provision to come. On this same mountain range, God would one day offer His only Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. God did not spare His Son but gave Him up for us all (Romans 8:32).
The story of Abraham and Isaac reminds us that God is always faithful. He will provide what we need in every situation. Our greatest need—salvation—has already been provided through Christ.
Faith That Moves Us
James 2:24 says Abraham was “justified by works.” This does not mean he was saved by works. Rather, his works proved his faith. True faith will always result in action. If we claim to believe God but are unwilling to obey Him, our faith is dead (James 2:17).
Faith moves us to trust God with our families, our finances, our futures—even when it’s hard. Faith leads us to surrender everything to Him, knowing He is good and will provide.
Application Questions
- Is there anything you are withholding from God?
- Are you trusting in God, or merely believing He exists?
- How can your faith be demonstrated in action this week?
Final Encouragement
The Christian life is a journey of growing faith. We won’t always get it right. But God is patient, gracious, and always working to strengthen our trust in Him. As we walk through trials, we can look to the cross and know—The Lord Will Provide.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5