The author of the Letter to the Hebrews has a great deal to teach us about faith and how faith works in the life of the servant of God. In 11.17-19 we read: By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Let it never be said that God does not test his people with regard to their faithfulness! And this testing nature of our Lord did not pass away with the resurrection of Jesus from death on the cross.

Just like Abraham we too have received multiple promises from our God about what he has in store for us. And we will come to experience everything that is promised if we will trust in him to keep his word: He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, This was no light matter for Abraham. He was called to offer his son as a sacrifice to his Lord—to kill him on the fire altar before God.

God had been very clear about his promise to this one who came to fatherhood very, very late in his life: even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Isaac was bound and placed on the wood and his father was all ready to burn the sacrifice. I submit that the ram was already caught in the bushes very close to the altar, but Abraham never noticed God’s offering gift.

God had already prepared his sacrifice beyond what his servant had done to make his offering: Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. This faith-filled servant truly believed his God about son Isaac becoming his heir—even if he had to raise him from death. But this one was delivered from that requirement just as are we with the gift of Jesus!