08/18/2025
You’ve all heard the story of Abraham, right? After the flood, God chose Abraham. When Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90, God made a promise to him. What was the promise? Genesis 17:15–17 And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. And I will bless her, and give you a son also of her: yes, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. Then Abraham fell on his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born to him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Think about this: Abraham and Sarah were very old. It seemed impossible for them to have a child at that age. The Bible says that when Abraham heard this, he laughed and thought to himself, “Can a man who is 100 years old have a child? Can Sarah, at 90, give birth?” Abraham didn’t believe it was possible. To him, God’s promise seemed like a joke. He thought, “God must know that old people can’t have children! How could He say I’ll have a son? That’s impossible!” So, Abraham laughed and didn’t take God’s words seriously.
Now, what kind of man was Abraham in God’s eyes? Some might think Abraham was a righteous man because God chose him. But being chosen by God doesn’t automatically mean someone is perfect or righteous. Abraham’s laughter showed his lack of faith. God sees everything about us—our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. But did Abraham’s doubts change God’s plan? No!
Genesis 17:21–22 says:
"But My covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear to you at this set time in the next year. And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham."
God didn’t argue with Abraham or get upset about his doubts. He simply restated His promise. God didn’t expect Abraham to fully understand or have great faith at that time. He knew Abraham’s limitations and didn’t condemn him for his doubts.
After making His promise, God left Abraham, and everything happened Just as God planned. Sarah gave birth to Isaac at the exact time God had said.
What does this story teach us? It shows that God’s plans are not affected by our doubts, fears, or lack of faith. Even when we don’t fully understand or believe, God’s work continues. His plan will always be carried out, no matter what people think or do. God doesn’t change His mind because of our weaknesses or mistakes. He remains faithful to His promises.
So, remember: God’s power and plans are beyond what we can imagine. Our doubts don’t stop Him. His will is always done, and His timing is perfect. This is the greatness of our God!
Let’s look at what God asked Abraham to do. In Genesis 22:2, God said to Abraham:
"Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will show you."
This was a shocking and difficult command. God was asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac—the child of promise, whom he had waited for so many years to have. Isaac wasn’t just any child; he was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. So, why would God now ask Abraham to give him up?
From a human point of view, this command seems confusing and even cruel. Imagine Abraham’s thoughts: God had miraculously given him Isaac when it seemed impossible—Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90. And now, God was asking him to sacrifice that very son. How could this make sense? But God had a purpose: He wanted to test Abraham’s faith, obedience, and love for Him.
What did Abraham do? The Bible tells us that he obeyed without hesitation. Genesis 22:3 says:
"Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took two of his servants and Isaac, and went to the place God had told him about."
Notice that Abraham acted immediately. He didn’t argue or delay. He prepared everything needed for the sacrifice and set out on the journey. This shows Abraham’s trust and obedience, even though he must have felt deep sorrow and confusion.
When they arrived at the place God had chosen, Abraham continued to follow God’s instructions. Genesis 22:9-10 says:
"Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He tied up his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son."
Imagine the emotional struggle Abraham faced at that moment. Isaac was the son he loved dearly, and now he was about to sacrifice him. But Abraham’s actions showed his complete trust in God. He believed that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God could bring him back to life if He chose to .
Did God see what Abraham was doing? Absolutely. From the moment God gave the command to the moment Abraham raised the knife, God was watching closely. This entire process revealed Abraham’s heart. Even though Abraham had once laughed in doubt when God promised him a son, this time, he showed true faith and obedience. He was ready to give back to God what God had given him.
At the critical moment, God intervened. Genesis 22:11-12 says:
"And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing unto him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me."
God’s Ways Are Often Beyond Human Understanding
To humans, many of God’s actions may seem incomprehensible or even unbelievable. When God chooses someone for a special purpose, His ways often challenge human logic. These moments of dissonance are not random; they are God’s trials and tests, designed to reveal the depth of a person’s faith and obedience.
In Abraham’s case, this command was a profound test. God’s intention wasn’t to take Isaac’s life but to see if Abraham would fully trust Him. Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac was the fundamental proof of his submission to God’s will. This submission was essential for God to confirm that Abraham could carry out His promise and play a central role in His plan. This act of faith deeply moved God. This is the kind of faith and obedience God desires from all of us.
Why God Tests Us
God’s tests are not meant to harm us but to reveal the depth of our faith and obedience. Sometimes, we wonder why God continues to test us even after we’ve made sacrifices. The truth is, God looks for complete and unconditional submission. He desires to see the same sincerity and trust that Abraham demonstrated when he raised the knife to sacrifice Isaac.
People may say, “I’ve already given or endured so much—why test me more?” This reveals a crucial point: God may not yet have seen the depth of your heart. He hasn’t seen the kind of true, unconditional faith Abraham showed. When Abraham obeyed God without holding anything back, God was deeply moved and reassured.
Sometimes, God’s ways don’t make sense to us, but we must trust that He has a purpose and knows what’s best.
True faith and submission means being willing to give up anything for God, even the things we value most.
God didn’t let Abraham go through with the sacrifice. He provided a ram as a substitute. This shows that God is always in control and provides what we need at the right time.
In the end, God’s plan is always perfect, and our faith and obedience are what truly matter. Abraham’s story reminds us that even in the hardest tests, we can trust God completely.
God’s Promise to Abraham after showing his submission
In Genesis 22:16-18, God says to Abraham:
"By Myself have I sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this and not withheld your only son. I will bless you greatly, and your descendants will be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies’ gates. Through your offspring, all the nations of the earth will be blessed because you obeyed My voice."
This passage shows God’s deep blessing for Abraham, but it’s more than just words of promise. It reveals God’s heart and the special relationship He had with Abraham because of Abraham’s obedience.
The blessing God gave Abraham was truly special and How special was it? There’s a key sentence in Genesis: “And through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” This shows Abraham received a blessing unlike anyone else before or after him.
Abraham’s blessing came because he obeyed God completely. When God asked Abraham to give up his only son, Isaac, Abraham was willing to do it without hesitation. Because of this, God didn’t just return Isaac to him; He promised to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. God said they would conquer their enemies and bring blessings to all nations.
One important part of this promise is when God says, “By Myself have I sworn.” People usually swear by something greater than themselves, like Heaven. But God swore by Himself because there is nothing higher. This shows how serious and heartfelt God’s promise was. He was deeply committed to Abraham. It also gives us a powerful sense of the bitterness and pain borne by God and God alone behind the scenes of this work of His management plan. It is a thought-provoking passage, and one that held special significance for those who came after, and had a far-reaching impact upon them.”
When God spoke to Abraham, He wasn’t just giving a promise—He was making a lifelong commitment. He was telling Himself, “I will bless Abraham because he obeyed Me. I will make his descendants the foundation of My future plans.” This was more than just giving Abraham many descendants; It was that God’s plan to save the world would begin with Abraham’s descendants. From this family, God would reveal His wisdom, power, and authority. He would show the world who He is.
This blessing wasn’t temporary. It continued through generations as God worked through Abraham’s family to fulfill His plan. God gave His everything—His effort, wisdom, and even His life—to this chosen group. Through Abraham’s descendants, God’s work of salvation would unfold, and all nations would be blessed.
For Abraham, this was the greatest blessing: to be part of God’s eternal plan and to know that his obedience would impact the world forever.
This blessing to Abraham reveals how much God values sincerity and obedience. Abraham’s willingness to give up his beloved son Isaac moved God deeply. It was the first time a human had offered something so precious to God, and it showed the first real “fruit” of God’s efforts to guide mankind. This act filled God with joy and hope for humanity.
God yearns for more than obedience; He longs for a group of people who truly know Him, walk with Him, and understand His intentions. This desire of God has never changed. From the beginning of creation until now, God has been seeking people who can understand His character, testify to His greatness, and be in harmony with Him.
Even though the path is long and challenging, God has never given up on His hope for mankind. He continues to work patiently, looking for people who can be sincere, obedient, and truly understand His heart. This is God’s greatest desire and purpose in His plan to guide and save humanity.
Now, you might not fully grasp the depth of God’s intentions, but with time, experience and understanding, it will become clearer!
