How Big is Your Fatih?

         How big is your faith? If God asked you to sacrifice your child, could you go forward with that request like Abraham did? He was ready to thrust a knife into his son, Isaac, when an angel stopped him. An Angel. Was it the LORD Himself? When we see the LORD all capitalized, it has been translated from the Hebrew word Yahweh. See Exodus 3:15 where God, in speaking to Moses, declares that this is His name.

God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations." Exodus 3:15

Once again we see Jesus in the Old Testament. If He hadn’t spoken to Abraham at just the right moment—testing Abraham’s faith to the last second—then Abraham would have sacrificed his son. That was great trust on Abraham’s part. He knew God had a plan. Did he think that God would give him another son if Isaac died? That took trust and deep faith. Abraham’s faith was big. He even told Isaac that God would provide a lamb, or sheep, for the offering. God had promised that Abraham would be the father of a great nation.

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others." Genesis 12:1-2

God’s plan meant that Isaac would be the beginning of the blessing. He had to live. Because Jesus was there and provided that sheep, Isaac lived, and God has the nation of Israel today, as well as a multitude of followers who believe in Jesus as their Savior. Notice that the LORD told Abraham to “go to the land that I will show you” just as Jesus told His followers to “go into all the world.” Do you have the faith to follow Jesus’ command? Are you ready, prepared, and willing to serve Him? It is your choice. Seek Him and ask Him to prepare you to be prepared. 

We have the fire...
and the wood.
Where is the sheep?

Sometime later, God tested Abraham's faith. "Abraham!" God called. "Yes," he replied. "Here I am." "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. ... Isaac turned to Abraham and said, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "We have the fire and the wood," the boy said, "but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?" "God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son," Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Yes," Abraham replied. "Here I am!" "Don't lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son." Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Genesis 22:1-3, 7-13

 

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, once again I see You working in and through the people of the Old Testament. Awesome. Give me wisdom and understanding to follow Your commands and to serve You by sharing the Gospel—the Good News about You—with others. You are such an encouragement to me, my family, and friends—so help me to be encouraging to others. I am grateful everyday for Your sacrifice and Your love.

 

Meditate. Consider sacrifice.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father's God, and I will exalt him! The LORD is a warrior; Yahweh is his name! Exodus 15:2-3

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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