This part of Abraham’s story always seemed like an unfathomable ask from God to me. Even though I knew the Lord inevitably stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, even so… Why this specific test? In addition to killing his one and only son, it must have also seemed as though God was asking him to destroy the very thing that was promised to him. Abraham had to ponder, “What about the lineage and descendants you promised me?” This is a very specific test from God for a very specific purpose in the grand story of redemption, but I believe we can learn so much about God’s character and Abraham’s faith in this story.
Abraham might not have known how God was going to provide, but he knew that God couldn’t break his promise. God cannot change or deny who He is. When I read this story, it seems as though Abraham trusted the Promiser more than the promise itself. Although we don’t have the same specific promptings from God as Abraham did, we do have the same God to cling to. Just like Abraham, I bet we all have some things that we’ve been waiting on God for. Maybe it’s a healing for something, maybe it’s a question you want answered, or maybe it’s provision for a certain situation. God proves to us time and time again both in Scripture and within our lives that He will provide… But what a joy that our hope is not contingent upon how God provides. Our hope is found in God himself. As we go about our day today, let our hope be in the Promiser rather than the provision; He is faithful yesterday, today, and forever.