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Faith for the unthinkable

by Adam Bennett  
2/03/2009 / Devotionals

I find the account of Abraham's obedience in proceeding to sacrifice his son Isaac troubling. (You can read the account in Genesis 22) It makes me wonder things like:

-What did Abraham think when God told him to kill his son? (v.2)

-What did Abraham think was going to happen when he said that God would provide the sacrifice? (v.7-8)

-What did he tell Isaac when he was tying him up and holding a knife above him? (v.9)

-With Isaac dead, how did Abraham think God would fulfil his promises?

-How did the experience influence Isaac's faith?

-What did Abraham think he was going to tell Sarah when he got home?

The New Testament provides some insight into Abraham's thoughts. In Hebrews 11:17-19 we are told, "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."

This is amazing faith. Abraham obeyed God to do the unthinkable because, despite the seeming impossibility, he trusted in God's character and power and reasoned that God could raise Isaac from the dead.

Of this faith Paul wrote to the Romans, "No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." (4:20-21 ESV)

James cited this story as evidence of Abraham's saving faith when he wrote, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?" (James 2:21 ESV)

Not only does this passage teach about faith, it teaches us about Jesus. God's chosen people, in Isaac, were substituted on the altar for a ram provided by God. In the same way, Jesus was substituted for God's people on the cross.

Copyright Adam Bennett 2009. More articles are available at http://godward-thoughts.blogspot.com/

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