ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2026 – Early the Next Morning
MEMORY VERSE: “”Early the next morning, Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac…” Genesis 22:3 NIV
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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Obedience often begins in the early hours, before comfort sets in, before doubt has time to grow. In Genesis 22:3, we see a profound act of obedience: “Early the next morning…” Abraham rises to fulfil one of the hardest commands God had ever given, to offer his beloved son, Isaac, as a sacrifice.
There’s no record of Abraham hesitating, bargaining, or stalling. Instead, he gets up early and moves forward in faith. This single phrase speaks volumes about his trust in God. He didn’t wait for ideal conditions, more confirmation, or emotional readiness; he simply obeyed.
Obedience delayed is often obedience denied. Abraham’s early rising shows a heart that is surrendered, responsive, and ready to act, even when the path doesn’t make sense.
God is still calling us to the steps of faith today. They may not be as dramatic as Abraham’s test, but they still require trust, surrender, and early action, before distractions or fear talk us out of it.
Reflections
- Is there something God has asked you to do that you’ve been putting off? Why?
- What might “getting up early” look like in your spiritual walk, stepping into obedience before comfort or clarity comes?
- How do you respond when God’s instructions challenge your logic or emotions?
- What can you learn from Abraham’s readiness and trust in this passage?
Action Step
Identify one area where God has been prompting you to act. Whether it’s forgiving someone, sharing your faith, giving generously, or spending time in prayer, don’t wait. Take a step today, no matter how small, as an act of trust and obedience. Rise “early,” not in time of day, but in timeliness of response.
Prayer
- Lord, help me to trust you like Abraham did, without delay, and without doubt.
- Give me the courage to rise early in obedience, even when I don’t fully understand our plan.
- I surrender my timing, my fears, and my hesitations to you.
- Teach me to respond quickly to your voice, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Further Reading: Lamentations 5:15-End; John19:1-18; Hebrews 10:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 23 April 2026
