This was the moment everything had been building toward. Abraham had followed God through ups and downs, victories and failures. But nothing compared to what God asked him to do in Genesis 22.
Genesis 22:2 says,
“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.”
This wasn’t just any son. Isaac was the miracle child — the one God had promised for years. Abraham had waited and prayed and wept and believed, and now God asked him to lay Isaac on the altar. No explanations. No backup plan. Just trust.
And Abraham obeyed.
He got up early. He cut the wood. He took the journey. He brought the knife. Every step had to feel heavier than the one before. But still — he trusted.
Genesis 22:9-10 says,
“And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there… and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.”
That’s when God stopped him.
God didn’t want Isaac’s life — He wanted Abraham’s heart. And Abraham passed the test. His faith wasn’t just in God’s promises — it was in God’s character. He believed that somehow, even if Isaac died, God would raise him up. (See Hebrews 11:19.)
Romans 12:1 reminds us,
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…”
God is still calling His people to the altar. Not with lambs or bulls, but with our whole lives. Our dreams, our relationships, our futures — all surrendered to Him.
And Isaac? He was more than just Abraham’s son. He was a picture.
John 3:16 says,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…”
Where Abraham stopped, God went all the way. On that same mountain range centuries later, God the Father placed His Son on the wood. But this time, there was no substitute. Jesus was the Lamb. And He gave His life so we could live.
This final step in Abraham’s journey was the highest peak — not because he was perfect, but because he trusted God with what he loved most. That’s what real faith looks like. Not just trusting God to give blessings, but trusting Him when He asks you to give something back.
So what’s your Isaac? What’s the thing you’re holding close, afraid to lay down? The altar is still there. And the same God who provided for Abraham will meet you there, too.
Abraham’s journey wasn’t easy, but it was real — full of faith, failure, growth, and grace. Step by step, he learned to trust God more deeply, and with each test, his life pointed forward to Jesus Christ. Our journey is no different. We stumble, we wait, we pray, we obey — and through it all, God is faithful. If we’re willing to walk by faith, like Abraham did, we’ll find that the same God who called him, carried him, and kept His promises to him will do the same for us.
