We all admire his faith, but do you ever wonder what Abraham was thinking when God asked him to offer up his son?  There were probably innumerable thoughts, but thanks to the writer of Hebrews, we know one of them:

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.”  He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Growing up, I had the perception that Abraham secretly figured God would never require him to sacrifice his son.  Even though the angel of the LORD says in Genesis 22, “I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son from me”, I always figured since Abraham answered Isaac’s question of “Where is the lamb, father?” with “God will provide one” that he knew God would never require him to go through with it and would provide another offering.

But when Abraham’s faith to offer up Isaac is cited in Hebrews 11, note what he considers…”that God is able to raise people even from the dead”.  There would be no need to consider God’s resurrection power, unless you thought your son was about to die.  It’s obvious, along with the angel’s words in Genesis 22 that Abraham believed he would sacrifice his son.

Man, I struggle enough to follow the LORD and bring my kids to a place where they face a variety of sicknesses.  I can’t even imagine ending their life with a knife.

I need more faith.