After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” Here I am,” he answered. “Take your son,” He said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” Genesis 22:1-2 HCSB
There have been numerous times in my life when I have had to go through a particular difficulty or challenge. I have even asked the question, “God, why is this happening to me?” At other times I have felt God telling me to do something or minister to someone in some way and I have asked, “Are you sure?” and even questioned God’s prompting.
Certainly, Abraham must have had some of those same questions and feelings toward what God was asking him to do. In Abraham’s day, child sacrifice was fairly common among many cultures. People would sacrifice their children in hopes of gaining favor with the “gods” to provide more crops or better business or safety from enemies. But God was asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son of promise from God, the son through whom the promise of many descendants, nations, and kings would come. Certainly God would not want Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
Challenge: This is a foreshadowing of what was to come in Jesus Christ. God would be asked to sacrifice His perfect Son on the cross for the sins of the world. Just as those who stood at the foot of the cross did not see any good in what was happening, God knew what was best and allowed it to happen. Sometimes God allows difficulties in our lives or challenges us to do something to help us to grow and trust Him more. Trust God and follow His directives in every area of your life. He wants only the best for you.