Read Genesis 22:1-19. This is the story of how God tested Abraham and how he passed the test of faith. For the first time God reveals Himself as Jehovah Jireh, God the Provider. To Provide means to give, to make available for use, to supply what is needed or wanted. The word Love (“ahabta” in Hebrew) appears for the first time in the Bible (Gen 22:2). The Hebrew word “shachah” is first translated worship in this chapter. But the first time this same word appeared was translated “bowing to the ground”, also relating to Abraham. “Then the Lord appeared to him… and he bowed himself to the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant” (Gen 18:1-3). To worship is to bow down. Worship humbly acknowledges that God is greater, and we are lesser. We are needy and He alone can provide. We are weak and He alone protects. We are lost; He saves. Abraham, a wealthy and powerful man, “bowed to the ground” before the One he acknowledged to be Lord, Master and Provider. Genesis 22 describes the true meaning of worship. Abraham went up the mountain to give his most loved, treasured and prized possession. Isaac went up the mountain to give himself “as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1). Lessons: When is the last time you put your knees on the floor and begged your Lord “Please, my Lord, do not pass me by!” Have you given your most treasured love to God?

God also tested Job. He allowed him to pass many trials but, in the end, Job too passed the test of faith. Job declared: “Though He slay me yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). This shows Job’s profound faith in God, in the face of suffering and possible death. Like Abraham, Job acknowledges God’s sovereignty over life and death. What Job calls “slaying” is it not literal, but it shows the depth of his suffering. This “slaying” is a prophetic picture of the Cross of Christ. Job declares that even if God sends trials, he will not stop trusting in God. This trust and hope are not connected with an immediate deliverance but with total faith in the love, justice and mercy of God. As believers, we have Christ in us, the Hope of glory (Col 1:27). Lesson: God has a plan and a purpose in every testing, for His glory and for our good!

“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” God only tests believers, not unbelievers. These tests are symbols of the test of Jesus Christ on the Cross. God tests us to purify, prove, strengthen and reveal the depth of our faith, not to cause us to fall. God calls Abraham by name. This shows an intimate relationship. Immediately, Abraham answers saying: “Here I am”. This shows his submission, readiness and willingness to respond to God’s call without hesitation. True faith manifests through actions. Even in testing, we must trust in God’s promises and His ability to fulfill them, as Abraham did. God commands Abraham: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you”. This is the first time that the word “love” appears in the Bible. It is a very personal command. God tells Abraham to take his son, his only son, the son he loves so dearly, the promised son for whom he waited 25 years, the son on whom the covenant stands, and to offer him as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah. A burnt offering means sacrificial death. It is a total sacrifice. Abraham had another son called Ishmael. But God told him to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Isaac is now called “your only son”. These words show the deep love Abraham has for Isaac. He is asked to sacrifice what he loves the most. Abraham is a picture of God the Father and Isaac is a picture of God the Son, Jesus Christ. This story points to God’s love and pain when Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, died on the Cross to save sinners.  

The sacrifice of Isaac must be done at a particular place called Mount Moriah. God is totally in charge of this sacrifice, including the time and the place. Mountains are places of revelation and encounters with God. That holy place on Mount Moriah will later be bought by King David. It was on this place that King Solomon, his son, will build the Temple of God (2 Chr 3:1). Mount Moriah is a symbol of the Cross. Abraham’s response to God’s command shows the depth of his faith and willingness to obey, even when it seems illogical and painful. Isaac’s near sacrifice is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. God reveals His provision, a ram in place of Isaac, teaching that God will provide for our needs when we trust Him. Lessons: God tests Abraham not to lead him to failure but to strengthen his faith in God’s promises. We are to consider what we hold most dear and whether we are willing to surrender it to God. Early the next morning Abraham went on the journey. He obeyed immediately. All great servants of God like Abraham, Moses, Joshua obeyed God’s commands without delay. It also shows their faith in God even during difficult times. Abraham prepared the wood for the burnt sacrifice. He did not take any chances not to find wood on that mountain. Two servants accompany Abraham and Isaac on their journey. They represent witnesses to these events, though they remain unaware of the full purpose of the journey.

“Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” The “third day” is significant in the Bible, symbolizing a period of trial followed by deliverance or revelation. This pattern is seen in the death of Jesus Christ, who rose on the third day, signifying victory over death. The three-day journey also emphasizes the gravity and deliberation of Abraham’s obedience to God’s command, allowing time for reflection and faith. Abraham looked up. Abraham’s act of looking up can be seen as an expression of worship and faith. Looking up also signifies seeking or receiving divine wisdom and guidance, as when Jesus looks up to heaven before performing miracles. Abraham saw the place that was “afar off”. Abraham’s journey to Moriah is a symbol of the journey of Christ to the cross, on the Calvary Hill. Abraham’s instruction to his servants to remain with the donkeys highlights the separation between ordinary work and the sacred task ahead. The donkey, a common beast of burden, symbolizes the everyday responsibilities that must be set aside when approaching a divine encounter. Abraham’s communication with his servants reflects his leadership and the trust he places in them. It also emphasizes Abraham’s role as a patriarch, master (Adonai), responsible for guiding and instructing those under his care. The term “lad” means a young man and it refers to Isaac who is a young adult here. It shows the close father-son relationship. Going “yonder” is a deliberate movement towards a specific place chosen for worship. Worship here involves sacrifice, signifying devotion and obedience to God. Abraham’s statement of returning with Isaac is a deep expression of faith. Despite knowing God’s command to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham believes in God’s promise that Isaac will be the heir through whom God’s covenant will be fulfilled. This reflects a deep trust in God’s provision and reveals Abraham’s faith that Isaac will resurrect from the dead. As a symbol, it points to the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ.

“So, Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together”. Abraham placed the wood on Isaac’s back. The wood was heavy. It shows the burden of obedience to God. This points to Jesus who carried His wooden Cross to Calvary. Abraham himself carried the fire, a symbol of God’s presence and the knife, as the priest who performs the sacrifice. The knife in his hand shows that Abraham was ready to obey God to the end. Father and son, the two of them walked together. It shows the unity of the Spirit between Abraham and Isaac. Clearly Isaac trusts his father even in this difficult journey. This points to the unity between God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ, who died for sinners. In the same way, we walk in obedience to God, even in difficult circumstances, when we do not understand His ways.

“But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together”. Then Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” This shows Isaac’s deep respect and trust in his father, Abraham. In that culture, the close relationship between father and sin was foundational. The father is the authority, the mentor, the guide, the protector and the provider of the home. The son learns from the father so that one day, he will take over the leadership of that family. Abraham responds: Here I am, my son! These are the same words Abraham used when God called him: “Here I am” (Gen 22:1). Abraham listens to both God and his son. Abraham is a picture of Christ who was always ready to listen and obey God the Father. Isaac said that they have fire and wood, but the sacrificial lamb is missing. This shows that Isaac understood the process because he has seen his father offering burnt sacrifices of animals to God. It also shows Isaac’s innocence and trust in his father. The absence of the lamb increases the tension of the story, pointing to God’s provision of a substitute, which is Jesus Christ! Lessons: Just as God provided a ram in place of Isaac, He provides for all our needs, often in unexpected ways. Parents must mentor their children in the ways of God!

“And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together”. Abraham’s response to Isaac’s question reflects his faith in God’s provision. This moment is a test of Abraham’s faith, as God had commanded him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham believes that God will intervene, a theme consistent with his previous experiences of God’s faithfulness. Here we see that Abraham passes the test of faith! Jehovah Jireh is God the Provider who intervenes at the right moment, to supply what is needed! In Hebrew, the word “provide” is “yireh”. It is part of God’s name as Jehovah Jireh. It really means to see with prophetic eyes. In other words, Abraham said “God will see to it” to provide what is necessary. Even in this difficult moment, the two of them, father and son, continue to walk together. This unity can also be seen as a type of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, who willingly went to the cross in obedience to the Father’s will. Lessons: Abraham’s statement, “God Himself will provide,” reflects a deep trust in God’s ability to meet all needs, even in impossible situations. Jehovah Jireh has Resurrection Power. We must always trust God’s provision in our own lives.

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood”. Abraham arrives at the very place God told him about. This shows his total obedience to God’s commands. The location is Mount Moriah, which later becomes the site of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chr 3:1). Abraham builds an altar there. He is ready to worship God by his obedience even to God’s difficult commands. In the Old Testament, altars are places of encounter with the Living God. He arranged the wood and bound Isaac, his son, on it. Here we see that true faith and love are not just words. They are proved by action. Isaac was a young strong man. Abraham is old. If Isaac refused to cooperate, he could have run away. But he willingly submits to his father even when he does not understand the act itself. Isaac is a picture of Jesus on the Cross. Jesus said: “Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (Jn 10:17,18).

“And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So, he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now, I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me”. Abraham stretched out his hand with his knife, to slay his son. This is the climax of Abraham’s journey of faith in God that started many years ago, when God called him to leave his homeland. This grave moment is a point of no return. Abraham is ready to sacrifice his only son. His faith in God’s promises is complete. He is willing to surrender everything to God, his whole life. He has now passed the test of obedience, love and faith in God. Lesson: true faith involves total surrender to God and worship. then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven. This “Angel of the Lord” is God Himself. This is a critical moment. He stops him from sacrificing Isaac. This shows God’s intervention in men’s lives. This illustrates God’s timely provision and protection, reminding us that God is aware of our circumstances and intervenes at the right moment. Heaven has total authority over men on earth, especially over the believers. God calls Abraham’s name two times. This shows God’s intimate relationship with Abraham and the urgency of the moment. Abraham answers: Here I am! This is the third time Abraham has uttered these words in this story. These are the words of a servant of God, ready and willing to always obey His Master, Adonai! Lessons: we must be always sensitive to God’s voice and obey it! God tests us in life to establish our faith. We become stronger after passing the trials of faith.

The Angel commands Abraham: “Do not lay a hand on the lad or do anything to him!” He speaks with authority as God Himself. We see God’s sovereignty and perfect timing over all events. He has ultimate control over life and death. It also shows God’s provision of mercy and a door of escape during trials of faith. The Angel says: Now I know that you fear God! We see here the purpose of the test. The fear of God is not terror, making us to run away from God. It is deep honor and respect for God’s Person and obedience to His commands. The fear of God means to take God seriously. It manifested as Abraham’s refusal “to withhold” his only son from God. In Hebrew, to withhold means to restrain, refuse, spare, keep or to preserve. The opposite is to allow, to let go. This is a prophetic picture of God’s Love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16).

“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So, Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” God’s provision of a ram instead of Isaac comes after Abraham passes the test of faith. The ram is caught in a thicket, which symbolizes the entanglement of sin. This ram provided by God stands for Christ crucified for sinners. Lesson: We must trust God always! Once we pass the test of faith, the provision comes. God provides the needs before He provides the solution. Abraham names this place “The Lord will Provide” of Jehovah Jireh. It is a memorial that God sees and provides for all our needs. This is not only a memorial. It points to all future needs. That is why it is called The Lord “shall Provide”. As we study the names of God, we have a fresh encounter with God and receive new blessings of provision. Abraham’s actions left a legacy of faith that is remembered and celebrated. Lesson: we should leave a legacy of faith as a gift to the future generations.

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice”. The Angel of the Lord calls Abraham “the second time”. Earlier, the angel of the LORD intervened to stop Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. This second call reaffirms God’s covenant promises and blessings to Abraham, rewarding his faith and obedience. In the past, people swore by others who are greater than themselves. Here God swears by Himself because there is no one greater than Him. God’s promises to bless Abraham because of his obedience. This shows God’s desire for a deeper relationship with His people, to bless them by Himself.  God confirms His promise made to Abraham in the past (Genesis 12:2,3; 15:5). This blessing includes both material prosperity and spiritual favor, extending to Abraham’s descendants and ultimately to all nations through them. The multiplication of Abraham’s descendants is both a literal and spiritual promise, fulfilled through the nation of Israel and the spiritual descendants of Abraham, the believers in Christ who are considered Abraham’s seed (Gal 3:29). The picture of stars and sand shows the vastness of Abraham’s descendants. Stars symbolize a heavenly promise, while the sand represents earthly abundance. This dual imagery shows the blessings promised to Abraham are both spiritual and physical. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. This promise signifies victory and dominion over adversaries. In ancient times, possessing the gates of a city meant having control over it. Gates were strategic points of defense and trade. This is a prophetic word to Isreal, who will conquer the surrounding nations. It also points to the ultimate victory of Christ and His church over spiritual enemies. Jesus says that the gates of Hell will not prevail against His church (Matt 16:18). Lessons: We must trust in God’s power to provide and to overcome all challenges in life. The blessings of protection and prosperity promised to Abraham extend to future generations. Selah!