Consider the Faith of Isaac
“Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together.” Genesis 22: 7-8
For many years I have read this passage of scripture to understand the great faith of Abraham, but I never really considered the faith of Isaac, the son. Abraham had a promise that was direct from Yahweh. Yahweh promised that he would be the father of many nations. Isaac was just obedient to his father Abraham. That’s not to lessen the amount of faith Abraham had to have because Isaac was his son and now, he was being asked to sacrifice him.
Now on the other hand, Isaac was being asked to make a three-day journey with his father to Mt. Moriah to make a sacrifice. It can be assumed that Isaac had been a part of many sacrifices and knew the procedure and what was needed for them. Because when his father placed the wood on his shoulders, he looked up and asked, “Where is the lamb?” He even allowed his father to bind him and place him on the altar to be killed and never said anything contrary to his father.
Furthermore, you never hear of Isaac’s faith being shaken or waivered from that point on. Can you imagine the phycological damage that would cause a child to know that his father was set on sacrificing him? Also, I feel we were told that Abraham laid the wood on him to reference to Isaac’s age and to show the kind of faith that was established, in him as a son.
I have often joked about what I would have done if I was Isaac. But the truth is I hope that I possess that kind of faith, now. Did you ever wonder what the outcome would have been if Isaac had reacted any differently? Nevertheless, I am so glad to know that Jesus offered to carry my wood.
Yes, and Amen!