Isaac was not just any son. He was the son promised by God. That promise had been fulfilled after many long years of waiting and expectation. And now God calls Abraham to take that promise and sacrifice it. Why would God do such a thing? Was it not enough for him that Abraham had believed him when the promise was made (Genesis 15:6)?
Has God promised you something that you are still waiting to be fulfilled? Has a long time passed since you received that promise, and are you now starting to have doubts? Have you begun to lose confidence that it was really a promise of God or that he is really able to make it happen?
Chances are that the promise has not yet been fulfilled because God is putting you through one more test before he keeps his promise. Learn from Abraham. Do what he did. Get up early in the morning and prepare whatever you need to worship God (22:3). Then take the wood for the sacrifice, the cross of Christ, and lay it on that promise you received (22:6). Let the cross of Christ completely cover that promise and all of your expectations. Make sure that the cross also covers the frustration that has built up and any hard feelings you may have built up against God.
Don't allow anything to be bigger, broader, or deeper than the cross, the wood of the sacrifice.
Finally, build an altar for God in your heart (22:9) and ensure that the cross is there in its proper place. Then lay on that altar all those unfulfilled promises.
And now . . . wait. Wait until God "provides you with a lamb for the sacrifice," until he supplies everything you need to come through the test a changed person, until he pours out his many blessings on you.
"I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies. All the nations will ask me to bless them as I have blessed your descendants-all because you obeyed my command." (22:17-18)
- 21 JULY -