Genesis 22:1-7: a reflection

1After these things, God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” He said, “Here I am.” 2He said, “Now take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will tell you of.” 3Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his donkey; and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. He split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place far off. 5Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you.” 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife. They both went together. 7Isaac spoke to Abraham his father, and said, “My father?” He said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

God gives Abraham the hardest command imaginable: to take his son, his only son Isaac, whom he loves, and offer him as a sacrifice. And Abraham obeys, rising early, setting out for the place God showed him. But notice what he says to his servants as he goes up the mountain with Isaac: Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there. We will worship, and come back to you. Even in obeying this hardest command, Abraham speaks of coming back, both of them; he trusts that somehow, in obeying, God will make it right.

Notice Abraham's obedient trust even in the hardest command. He obeyed, though the command was the hardest conceivable, the offering of his beloved son. Yet he did not obey in despair; he said, we will worship, and come back, trusting that God would somehow make it right, that he and the boy would return. He did not understand how; the command seemed to spell the loss of everything the promise depended on. But he obeyed, trusting God to make it right even in the hardest thing. His obedience was joined to trust that God would not fail him.

That obedient trust is worth taking to heart, for we too may face hard commands, and are called to obey trusting God to make it right. We may be called to obey God in hard things, things that cost us dearly, whose outcome we cannot see; and we can obey in despair, or refuse. But Abraham obeyed the hardest command trusting that God would make it right, that they would come back. When God calls you to a hard obedience whose outcome you cannot see, do not despair or refuse; obey, trusting that God will make it right, as Abraham said, we will worship and come back. Obey God even in the hardest things, joining your obedience to trust that he will not fail you but will make it right, as Abraham went up the mountain to obey the hardest command, trusting that he and the boy would come back, that God would somehow keep his promise.

Lord, you give Abraham the hardest command imaginable: to take his son, his only son Isaac, whom he loves, and offer him as a sacrifice. And Abraham obeys, rising early, setting out for the place you showed him. But notice what he says to his servants as he goes up the mountain: stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and come back to you. Even in obeying this hardest command, Abraham speaks of coming back, both of them; he trusts that somehow, in obeying, you will make it right. Show me Abraham's obedient trust even in the hardest command. He obeyed, though the command was the hardest conceivable. Yet he did not obey in despair; he said, we will worship, and come back, trusting that you would somehow make it right. He did not understand how; but he obeyed, trusting you even in the hardest thing. His obedience was joined to trust that you would not fail him. Take that obedient trust to my heart, for I too may face hard commands, and am called to obey trusting you to make it right. I may be called to obey you in hard things, whose outcome I cannot see; and I can obey in despair, or refuse. But Abraham obeyed the hardest command trusting that you would make it right. When you call me to a hard obedience whose outcome I cannot see, keep me from despairing or refusing; help me obey, trusting that you will make it right, Lord, as Abraham said, we will worship and come back. Help me obey you even in the hardest things, trusting that you will not fail me.