Genesis 22 is the victory of faith: “God did tempt Abraham” (v.1). This is not a temptation to lure one to commit sin; God will never do that (James 1:13). Satan will tempt one to sin but not God. The word “tempt’ originally means to try, to prove, to put to the test.
God tests Abraham’s unreserved obedience to His will. It is not that God does not know; God knows Abraham will pass the test. But we don’t know. The test was not so much a test to produce faith, as it was a test to reveal faith. God is here showing us why Abraham is the father of faith to all who have faith. The test is to convince us and not God. After reading Genesis 22, everyone will agree that Abraham was really the man the Scripture describes him to be – his faith is unsurpassed.
For many years Abraham waited for the promised son to be born. Now that this son had grown into a young boy, the word of God came to him to offer up this very son for a burnt-offering. Abraham could not understand why God wanted to take away Isaac from him. He did not question God. He obeyed as instructed by God. It was faith at its best.
God is showing us that faith is not something that is impossible for men to achieve. He is telling us that Abraham had it. And God is saying that’s the kind of faith that pleases Him: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
How would we react if God asks us to do such a thing? Thanks be to God; He has not asked such a sacrifice from us. What He wants is us. As parents, we know that giving ourselves is much easier than giving away our children. Therefore, God wants us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
Again, thanks be to God; what He is asking is a living sacrifice and not a dead one. God does not want us to die; He wants us to live for Him. Which is easier: to die now or to live for Jesus? Obviously, unless you are on your death bed, you will choose to live for Jesus than to die.
A living sacrifice is a life given to God. It is a life of service and commitment. It is a life exemplified by the apostle Paul: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Paul lived for Jesus. His life was dedicated to serve Jesus. He served Him to the end: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his son. He spared Abraham the worst agony a parent can suffer. But yet, God did not withhold His own son (Jesus Christ) but delivered Him up for us all (Romans 5:8; 8:32). Some might ask: “Why would God do such a thing?” The answer is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God spared Abraham’s son but not His own Son. He also spared our sons. He didn’t test our faith like He tested Abraham’s. If He had; would we pass the test? Think about it!
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