Abraham

    “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ 2 He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’ 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’ 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ And he said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ 8 Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.” -Genesis 22:1-8 (NASB)

    When I read this verse, I’m yet again reminded of how grateful I am that God doesn’t directly test my faith in the way that He tested Abraham’s in this story. This still baffles me to this day, the way Abraham is able to keep his composure through all of this. 
    
    Think about it, God just asked him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the one he had waited for until he was literally a hundred years old; the same son whom Abraham loved more than life itself. I wonder if this is why God tested Abraham with such a drastic request.
    
    I wonder if God was just checking up on Abraham, trying to make sure that he didn’t place Isaac before the One who gave him such a blessing. It makes sense when you think about it. Why not test a man’s faith in his creator with what he holds most dearly on this world? And it’s not like we’re really giving up much, compared to what God gave up for us.
    
    Jesus is worth more than anything we think we couldn’t lose, which just goes to show how often we forget that what we have isn’t ours. God gave it to us, so He could just as quickly take it away. I’m always impressed with how well Abraham was able to hold himself together on the way up the mountain, as he was able to respond to Isaac’s question about what the sacrifice would be with a simple yet profound answer. 
    
    God will provide. Isaac was given to God because it made Abraham happy, just like the things He gives us while we’re here. But the great thing is that He wants us to be happy. He wants us have good things. And He will always provide.