Offering Isaac (3) – The Test

Dear Brother:

As I was thinking and praying about what you said the other day, how God had purposely misled you to go to the wrong places or to do the wrong things, Genesis 22 came to my mind. Hopefully this might help you a bit. If not, just discard it.

God told Abraham to offer Isaac in verse 2. It was the word of God. Abraham listened and obeyed. But as he was about to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord spoke to him again and told him to stop. Now, if I was Abraham (thank God that I am not), I would say, “Get behind me, Satan. God told me to sacrifice the boy!” Both times were the words of God. Why did God tell him to do something but then abort the mission? Did God change His mind?

From our point of view, it is easy to see that God’s purpose was not about Isaac being offered but about Abraham’s obedience. In our personal lives, however, this calls for a tough discernment. Isaac meant everything most dear in our life. Our beloved is not some bargaining chip that can be easily offered. When we are willing to put our most treasure possession on alter, we do it with pain and with tears. Isaac also meant everything that our future holds. Progeny in those days is like our modern day retirement plan and all the future glory combined. Offering Isaac is like presenting our entire worth at the feet of God.

Then God told Abraham to stop. If this is a test, then the first command of “go offering” is testing my faith on His wisdom and faithfulness. Do I really believe that He knows what is the best me? If this is a test, then the second command of “stop offering” is testing my faith in His love and affection toward me. Stopping my precious and glorious sacrifice half of the way is both offensive and humiliating. Again, if I was Abraham, then I would probably rebel against the second command because of the embarrassment. But then if I disobeyed, I would lose both my Isaac and my faith in God.

You have obeyed the second command, “stop offering”. You have overcome that temptation of pride and rebellion. There is no doubt that God is very pleased with your action. But the feeling of being tricked by God is still there. As I was praying for you, I asked for a break through. I don’t know what type of break through you need exactly. But I know that Abraham did not stop worshipping there but “looked up” and “found the ram” of Jehovah-Jireh. After he sacrificed the ram, the Lord blessed him again. So I pray for a breakthrough that can cause you to look up and find a ram that the Lord has specifically prepared for you.

God gives us the least amount of troubles to give us the most amounts of blessings without ruining our lives. He holds no good thing from us. If it is good for us, He will release it in our lives.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84: 11)
“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (Psalm 16: 5 – 6)