So greasy old Abraham is in the worst bind of his life. He’s weaseled his way out of his own death before, but now God wants him to kill his son. And, shockingly, Abraham just complies without putting up any kind of a fight. Not even a peep. Is he too old to keep bargaining and negotiating with God? Or has he actually matured in his faith?
Hebrews 11 explains it this way:
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Abraham figures that God, being God, can take his son away and give him back again. He’s not sure exactly how it’ll happen, but somehow he’s able to trust that God really will fulfill his promise in his own way and his own time. When Isaac naively asks his father where the lamb is for the offering they will make, Abraham shows even more of his faith in God’s providence: “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” He wisely forwards his son’s question to God, allowing God to sovereignly answer it however he sees fit.
Sometimes God puts his kids into situations where we’re forced to say, “I don’t know how you’re going to do it, Lord, but I know you will!”
“I don’t know how you’re going to provide the money to do what you’ve called me to do…”
“I don’t know how you’re going to heal this relationship that seems to have no hope…”
“I don’t know how you’re going to get me out of this situation where most people would lie and cheat their way out…”
“..but I know you will!”
In Abraham’s case, his faith is reassured in a miraculous way: the appearance of an angel and the gift of a substitute sacrifice, allowing Abraham to put down the knife, untie his son, and take him off the altar. God’s providence is commemorated by Abraham’s new name for him: “The LORD will provide.” And everything’s happy again, like the end of a half-hour sitcom. Right? Not in my book.
Tomorrow I’ll explore some of the lingering questions that stick to the roof of your mouth after digesting this story.