In Genesis chapters 20 and 21, God brings about by a miraculous conception the birth of the promised son, Isaac! Sarah at 90 years of age and Abraham at 100 years of age. No wonder they named him “Laughter” that’s what Isaac means! Earlier in the book there was the question that expected a negative answer. It was, “is anything too hard for God?” The expected answer from both Sarah and Abraham is “No, of course not! With God all things are possible.” In this case it applied especially to the conception and birth of a 90 year old woman by a 100 year old man. Abraham and Sarah had trouble believing that and did so many things to bring about their own heir. Abraham identified Eliezer, his servant since he was childless. God said, “no!.” He tried to name Lot as his heir. God said no and separated the two of them. He and Sarah colluded to have Ishmael with a surrogate mother, Hagar! God said, “no.” It’s possible that Abraham and Sarah attempted to get a child from Pharoah and Abimelech. God said, “Absolutely not!” Sarah and Abraham were left without any means of making the heir happen on their own. They needed a miracle. Of course, God gave them one!

The after about 17 years God decided to see if all the doubts and fears of Abraham were settled and that he would no finally trust God. It required a test. Genesis 22:1-2 is the record of that test. It says, “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ God said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’” Abraham did what God asked! But what was he thinking? Hebrews 11:17-19. It says, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.” Abraham had indeed learned the lesson of “faith.” He trusted God!

It’s in the time of testing that our faith counts. Do you really believe God has your best interest foremost in mind? Do you really believe that God is trustworthy? Do you believe that enough to obey him? Do you really believe nothing is too difficult for God? Do you really believe God can and will raise the dead? This is what Darby says, “In offering up Isaac there was that absolute confidence in God which, at His command, can renounce even God’s own promises as possessed after the flesh, sure that God would restore them through the exercise of His power, overcoming death and every obstacle.” But most of all I hope you don’t fail to notice something most profound in this story. Hacking puts it this way, “Significantly, Abraham’s supreme test was on a mountain top not far from where Calvary stood (vv. 17–19). There he offered back his son, a moving story where faith and love battled hard. In the event, Isaac was not sacrificed, but a ram took his place, another of those biblical signposts towards the cross.”2

1 J. N. Darby, Synopsis of the Books of the Bible: Colossians to Revelation. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2008), 377.

2 Philip H Hacking, Opening up Hebrews, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2006), 73–74.