Mountain God 4: Faith & Obedience (Genesis 22)

After all this, God tested Abraham. God said, “Abraham!” ”Yes?” answered Abraham. “I’m listening.” 2 He said, “Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I’ll point out to you.” Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants and his son Isaac. He had split wood for the burnt offering. He set out for the place God had directed him… The angel of God spoke from Heaven a second time to Abraham: “I swear—God’s sure word!—because you have gone through with this, and have not refused to give me your son, your dear, dear son, I’ll bless you—oh, how I’ll bless you! And I’ll make sure that your children flourish—like stars in the sky! like sand on the beaches! And your descendants will defeat their enemies. All nations on Earth will find themselves blessed through your descendants because you obeyed” (Gen 22:1-5, 15-18). 

 As you read this post we are most likely resting against a hard rock, or cooling off in s nearby stream, perhaps telling stories around a campfire.  As I momentarily slip away from the group to gather some wood for the fire I’m reminded of our ancient father Abraham who obediently woke up early that fateful morning to chop wood and head off to his own mountain of testing to build a most unthinkable fire — a sacrificial fire for his precious son Isaac. 

Why did Abraham go through with it?