Genesis 22:1-24 The Lord Provides

Abraham waited many years for the birth of his son, Isaac, whom God had promised to give him. Because Abraham and Sarah were old when God gave the initial promise, the birth of Isaac was especially awesome.

In light of this situation, we are shocked to read in Gen 22:2 that God commands Abraham to take Isaac – “your only son” – and sacrifice him as a burnt offering in the land of Moriah.

Abraham obeyed this amazing directive, “Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey.” He gathered the needed provisions and started out for the place God had spoken to him about.

In verse 22:5 we read a very interesting comment as Abraham speaks to his servants, “You two stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go up there. We will worship and then return to you.”

Although Abraham fully intended to carry out God’s command, he believed that He and would return with Isaac to the servants. We are not told how Abraham thought God would accomplish this feat, but certainly the verse indicates his thoughts. Perhaps God would raise Isaac from the dead. Perhaps God would provide another sacrifice.

As Abraham and Isaac neared the place, Isaac asked, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering” (22:7). Abraham responds, “God will provide” (22:8).

If you and I wish to be like Abraham we must remember not only his steadfast desire to walk with God but also His trust that God will provide. That concept is a key teaching of this passage.

When God calls us to accomplish a task, He will provide. Even though things seem hopeless, we can trust in God. Abraham knew this truth, and we must know it too.

By the way, without the Bible we would not know this truth. If we truly want to know God, we must know the Scriptures. Apart from His word, these truths will elude us. Many people engage in all kinds of endeavors to know God. The light candles. They alter their state of consciousness. They pray repetitious prayers. They seek dreams, visions, and special messages.

In the end, these types of activities do not teach us more about Him. We come to know God through the inspired word He has given us. There is no other way.

Abraham built the altar, started the fire, bound Isaac and laid him on the altar. At the moment Abraham raised his knife to carry out the sacrifice, he heard the Lord’s angel, “Do not harm the boy” (22:12). Abraham looked and saw a ram caught in the thicket. The Lord had provided.

Abraham offered the lamb instead of his son. Then he named the place “The Lord provides” (22:14).

The angel then spoke to Abraham a second time and reiterated the Abrahamic Covenant that the Lord had made earlier with Abraham. After hearing these things Abraham returned with Isaac to the servants.

In the last few verses of this chapter we learn that Abraham’s brother has also had children. One of these children is a girl named Rebekkah (22:23). God had already provided once again. She would later become the wife of Isaac.

Whatever you and I might hear about God in our day, we must learn to trust in the God of the Bible. There is so much error taught about Him on the radio and television. Many people characterize Him as a weak, grandfatherly person who sits in some far off place called heaven. He has absolutely nothing to do there and has no power to do anything in the world in which we live. He cannot provide. He cannot judge. He cannot save. He cannot answer prayer.

That picture of God is absolutely false. It is an artificial construct created by the thinking of our day rather than by the Scripture. We must reject it.

God is powerful. He resides in heaven but reigns with absolute authority over all that He has made. He answers prayer. He is able to provide for us according to His plan. This is the God Abraham worshiped at Moriah on that day. He is the One we worship too.

“Praise the Lord, all that He has made, in all the regions of His kingdom! Praise the Lord, O my soul” – Psalm 103:22