True Faith and the Test of Isaac

Genesis 22:9–12 (NASB95) 

9Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.  

10Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” 

Abraham built the altar. He arranged the wood. He bound Isaac and laid him on the altar. As Abraham raised the knife, the angel of the Lord called out, stopping him. 

Child sacrifice was common in Abraham’s world. Pagan religions demanded the blood of children to appease their gods. These acts were celebrated among Israel’s neighbors and sometimes even crept into Israel itself. The God of Israel stands apart. He does not desire or accept human sacrifice. God’s command to Abraham was a test, not a demand for blood. He stopped Abraham before any harm came to Isaac. This act set God apart from the demonic gods who required such evil. Abstaining from child sacrifice marks the faith of Judaism and Christianity as holy and distinct. God’s people are called to reject the darkness of such practices, both then and now. 

Scripture does not specify whether God knew Abraham’s choice beforehand. The text uses human language: “Now I know how dedicated you are to God.” This does not imply God lacked knowledge. However, the test was not for God’s benefit. I would even argue that it wasn’t for Abraham’s immediate benefit either, since it no doubt affected his relationship with Sarah and Isaac. So, who is it for? You and me. It was meant for all who would read these words. God’s purpose was to reveal the depth of Abraham’s faith and to teach future generations what true faith looks like. 

Today, the world still sacrifices its children—sometimes literally, often spiritually or emotionally—to false gods of power, pleasure, and self. God calls His people to be different. He wants us to trust Him with everything, even what we hold most dear. The church must reject every form of evil that devalues life. We must offer God our obedience and our love. When we face tests, we must remember that God does not want our destruction. He wants our faith. Let us be a people who trust God fully as Abraham did.