(Genesis 22:1-2) Here, God is telling Abraham to offer up Isaac. This is an important event where a new path is opening. In understanding this, it is important to know God’s intention; otherwise, we are likely to misunderstand God.
Who is Isaac? He is the son that Abraham got as a gift from God’s promise when he was 100 years old. Imagine how precious Isaac would have been to Abraham and Sarah.Isaac was the one whom Abraham loved the most – someone he would die for. For us, Isaac is the symbol of what we love the most – even more than our lives. Sometimes when we follow God, we have to leave things that we have loved the most, whether it be our talent, our possession, friends, etc.
But sometimes God would ask that back, just as He is asking for Isaac. The path that follows God may require sacrifice of something else.
We may wonder why God would do such thing, asking me to be separated from what I loved the most. But we have to remember, God also asks that question to us, why we have separated God from what He loved the most – us. Before the Fall of Adam, God and man were in complete unity of love, as in the Father-Son relationship. However, man has deserted Him and got himself separated.
In Luke 15, there is the famous Parable of the Prodigal Son. In this parable, the younger son asks for his portion of inheritance, while his father was still alive, and separated. Inheritance is something you receive after death has separated the relationship. Before death, the father and son are to be united in one family, sharing everything that they have. In fact in Luke 15:31, the father says to the first son: “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” In love, they share.
So when Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, he displayed wisdom of faith. He did not analyze or think too complicated, but obeyed and left immediately. There is simplicity in a person of faith who doesn’t analyze things but trust completely.
Abraham was also commendable in the fact that he did not change his mind. Traveling to Moriah was a three-day journey. He had three days to change his mind and turn back, but he didn’t. He had a firm conviction and followed God.
So on the third day, Abraham arrived at Moriah. He left the donkey and the servant, and went with his son, Isaac. Only the son can accompany him until the end; this is not a path that a servant could go together. Isaac carried the wood that he should be sacrificed on, which resembles the image of Jesus carrying the cross that he would be crucified on.
Here we can reflect on the heart of Jesus Christ, who took the path knowing the sacrifice required, although Isaac was not aware. Jesus went that way with absolute trust. Many times, we tend to keep one foot in the door just in case, and go back in when things do not work out as we have planned. But we wish to resemble Jesus in his steadfastness and trust towards God.
When they were climbing the mountain, Isaac asked about the lamb. In response, Abraham said the Lord will provide. This is an important phrase that we should remember – that the Lord will provide. Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God will provide a way to go through the test. Abraham too had the faith that the Lord will provide everything.
After climbing the mountain, Abraham ties up Isaac. And Isaac does not resist. Isaac was smart enough to figure out what was going on and strong enough to fight his aged father, but he did not resist. Here, we can see the faith of Isaac, the child of promise who inherited his father’s faith. Isaac knew how Abraham loved him and probably accepted that there must be a good reason for his father to do such thing.
Faith is not inherited automatically, but our goal is for our next generations to inherit and surpass our faith. This is possible when we become one in heart. In this passage, God, Abraham, and Isaac became one. In this level of faith, no words are needed – they simply knew each other’s hearts.
What God wanted to see was not Isaac sacrificed; what He wanted to see was the faith of Abraham. Here, we see the faiths of two great ancestors. Abraham did not turn back but went to where God instructed; Isaac did not resist but obeyed. From this point, Isaac is not only the son of Abraham, but the son of both God and Abraham. Just like them, we should display the faith like Abraham and also to inherit to our children.
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