ESOCS Devotional 12 May 2026 – Abraham’s Ultimate Test of Faith
MEMORY VERSE: “And they came to the place which God had told him of, and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” Genesis 22:9 KJV
TEXT: GENESIS 22:1-18
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”
So he said, “Here I am.”
12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— 17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
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Abraham’s most critical test of faith was God’s command to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This was a most weighty trial because Isaac was the very son through whom God had promised to make Abraham a great nation. Ironically, Abraham had waited many years for his birth. However, God’s request was not about wanting Isaac dead, but about testing Abraham’s devotion and trust in Him.
Moreover, Abraham is the man with whom God chose to make His covenant, so that he became the father of God’s chosen people (Romans 4:12, 16). His life, though tinged by moments of doubt, deceit and disbelief, was characterized by strong faith in God that issued in strong obedience. That faith came to hearty expression at the altar where Abraham responded in obedience to God’s command to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice.
The Jews took pride in having Abraham as their father. On the other hand, the New Testament argues that those who truly believe in Christ Jesus are the real children of Abraham. Abraham is held as an example of persistent faith, and as someone who puts his faith in practice (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:18). The test of Abraham was a pointer to the time when an Only Son would be sacrificed for the sins of the world. God the loving Father would allow that to happen. He placed His Son on the cross and did not stay the hands of the executioners, (Matthew 27:32-56).
Reflections
- Abraham believed God, and it was counted for him for righteousness.
Prayer
- Lord, I believe.
Further Reading: Lamentations 5:15-22; John 18:19-37; Hebrews 10:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 12 May 2026
