It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)
What do you think went through Abraham’s mind when God directed him to sacrifice Isaac? God said, “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” (Genesis 22)
This wasn’t the same “Go” command that God gave him when he told him to “Go to a place I will show you.” This command was completely different. In this command, God seemed to be back stepping on everything that had happened to this point.
He had called Abraham to be the Father of a Nation and that Nation would come about through his son Isaac. How can he be the father of a Nation if Isaac was gone? How could his descendants be as numerous as the stars if there were no descendants?
God had worked miracles in the birth of Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were very old when Isaac was conceived. The fact that they conceived at all was a miracle. Why would God do that if he was going to take Isaac from him?
Abraham could have reasoned his way out of this situation. But he didn’t. He didn’t try to fit God into his scenario. Instead, he looked at his scenario in light of who God was.
The Bible says that Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God could raise him from the dead. He didn’t look at his chaotic circumstances and make a decision. He looked at God and made a decision. He knew who God was and what he was capable of. He trusted that above all else.
Let me ask you. Are you more likely to try to fit God into what is happening in your life or are you more likely to plan your life based on what you believe about God?