Climbing the Mountain

“After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham! “Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.”  He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.” Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey.”                                    Genesis 22: 1-3, 8-12

Abraham didn’t even have to ask the name of the voice.  He already knew.  Abraham had learned to hear the voice of God and readily listened.  Abraham had trusted God in the past, and God was testing his faith in the present.  If you remember, God promised Abraham that he would have a nation through his son.  Abraham must have had a few questions.  It just didn’t make sense.  He had waited his whole life for a son.  Now, God wanted him to give up the son that God had given him.

The next day must have been the longest day of Abraham’s life.  Although he was riding a donkey and getting closer to the mountain, he must have been fighting it inside the whole way.  Abraham was a dad.  He needed to protect his son.  Yet, he also needed to be an example of trusting God to his son.  The road to the mountain must have been agonizing.  He was struggling to be a man of faith yet facing the reality of the situation.

⁸ Abraham said, “Son, God will see to it that there’s a sheep for the burnt offering.” And they kept on walking together.

Abraham continued to have faith. His son was wondering about the sheep, but Abraham was confident in the faithfulness of God.

They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son.

Abraham must have been shaking as he climbed the mountain.  He probably had never prayed that intensely in his life.  He loved his son.  God knew that he loved him.  However, God was testing his faith and level of commitment.  It would have been easier if they could have built the altar at the bottom of the mountain.  Abraham had already traveled to the mountain. Climbing the mountain seemed like a waste of time.  If Abraham had chosen not to climb the mountain, would God have come through in the same way?  Abraham was being obedient.  Through his obedience, he felt the struggle all the way up the mountain.  God was testing Abraham each step of the way.  If there had been no struggle, then the miraculous moment might have been overlooked.

Imagine Isaac laying on the altar.  Was he supposed to just lay there or get up and fight his dad?  Isaac trusted his father, which gave him confidence to just lay there.  Abraham must have been shaking.  All the tests in his life had prepared him for this moment.  God was testing Abraham.  Abraham was trying to be obedient.  He had hoped there was another answer.

¹¹ Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Yes, I’m listening.”

¹² “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”

Abraham was so familiar with the voice of God.  He was able to instantly hear him.  God was not a moment late. Imagine the relief that flooded Abraham.  Tears probably started to flow down his face.  Abraham had proven that God was the priority of his life.  He had chosen to hold things in his life loosely.  He understood that he was a steward of what God had entrusted to him.  Abraham was obedient to God though it cost him everything.  Yet, God rewards those who honor Him.  Abraham had passed the test, but he had to climb the mountain first.

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