And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together (Genesis 22:8).
Abraham started on a long walk early one morning. By God's instruction, he was traveling to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son of promise. Isaac was born miraculously to him and his barren wife in their old age. Through Isaac would come not only a mighty nation, but also the Messiah. Therefore, to sacrifice Isaac not only meant death to his beloved son, but also to God’s promise of salvation. Yet Abraham had explicit faith in God’s word. Such faith lead him to act upon it.
After three days of travel, the party rested with the mountain in sight. Abraham instructs his two servants to stay, as he and Isaac would go onward to the destination to worship. Abraham assured the servants that both he and Isaac would return to them. Didn’t Abraham think his son would be killed? Yes, but Abraham figured God could then raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19). He had no doubt that one way or another God would fulfil His word!
And what of Isaac’s faith? He was a young man at this point, so he could easily resist his aged Father. Instead he carried the wood for the burnt offering. But he did ask his father where the offering was. However, at some point Isaac came to the realisation that he would be the offering! Yet he still went to the altar. What a picture of Jesus, who willingly carried the wood in which he would be crucified (John 19:16–18). Abraham’s ordeal was an incredible glimpse into the cross.
Faith can’t exist only in the mind and heart, for “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). Abraham didn’t say, “I believe” and then stay at the mountain’s base. Rather, he had feet of faith which scaled that mountain. His hands of faith strapped Isaac to the altar. His arm was raised in faith in order to slay Isaac. His faith had actions and his actions showed that he held nothing back from His Lord.
However, God stayed Abraham's arm least he hurt his son. It was not Abraham’s son that would be slayed but His own. God would provide the sacrifice, the ram caught in the thicket. It represented the Messiah to come. A crown of thorns would be thrust on his head. Nails would be thrust through his hands and feet. A spear thrust into his side. Worse of all, Jesus would be severed from His divine Father. He would bear our sin and our punishment. On this mountain, Mount Moriah, Jesus would be crucified. Abraham longed to see that day, and “he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).
Have you walked up that mountain? Is there anything holding you back from doing so? If so, let go of it and trod the path God lays before you in faith. Like Abraham, hold nothing back. And be assured, God will fulfil the plans He has for you. Believe not only with your heart and mind, but also with your feet.
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