“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.”

We want to make sure we point out the difference between test and tempt. God does not tempt, but He does test. How else can our faithfulness be proven? Regardless of what testing you have been through, it is doubtful that it matches this great test of Abraham. There is so much in this test that puts Abraham’s faith on the line.

There is the promise. God has made it plain that Isaac is the answered promise. How does that work if Isaac is dead? Long before Jesus rose from the dead, God called upon Abraham to believe in the resurrection. If Isaac is offered as a sacrifice, then his life is forfeited, and the promise is null. Therefore, God must resurrect Isaac in order to keep His promise.

There is the taking of an innocent life. God is asking Abraham to offer an innocent human being on an altar. This must fly in the face of what God has come to learn about God. So far, Abraham’s relationship with God has been one of blessing. How can God require this?

There is the matter of who is being offered. God is not asking for Abraham to offer just anyone. He is asking for the son of promise. Abraham’s life is now centered around this child, the child of promise. Ishmael had been taken from him, and all of Abraham’s hopes were centered in Isaac, the child born to Abraham’s beloved wife, Sarah.

There was the obedience of Abraham. “He took the knife to slaughter his son.” There would be no hesitation. Abraham made up his mind to do it. While he was stopped from completing the act physically, he had committed to doing it in his mind. He passed the test.

Task for Today: What are you committed to doing to show your faith today? Whatever it is, it won’t match Abraham’s. But, be assured the principle is the same. God will want to see proof of your faith. Practice using faith for life so that when the big test comes, you will be pleasing to God. No matter what it looks like on the surface, God will keep His promises, and that includes the resurrection of the dead.