The Life of AbrahamSample

We Will Return

This last great story of Abraham appears to mirror the first. When Abraham’s story begins, the Lord appeared to Abram and commanded him to leave his relatives behind and go to the land He would show him. It is bizarre to leave home not knowing where you are going, but God asked Abraham to trust Him, and he did. 

In this instance, God commands Abraham to leave his home and travel to Mount Moriah to do something even odder—to offer his son as a sacrifice. Again, God asks Abraham to trust Him; this time, Abraham fully and promptly obeys.

The book of Hebrews tells us that since God had promised that Isaac would be the child from whom Abraham would become a great nation, he reasoned that God would resurrect the child after he was sacrificed (Hebrews 11:19). This is confirmed by what we read in Genesis 22:5. When Abraham left the two servants to go sacrifice Isaac, he stated with confidence, “We will come back,” and they did! Not because of a resurrection, but because God provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice.

Today’s great story is brimming with a perspective we should embrace. No doubt Abraham was thankful when the ram stood in for his child. Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb. He died in our place. A perspective of profound gratitude is an appropriate foundation for every believer daily and for eternity.

Abraham’s willingness to trust God’s resurrection power led to his life’s greatest testimony. As believers after Pentecost, we have been filled with God’s resurrection power. By walking in that power, we can walk in Abraham’s shoes as friends of God. As we do that, God’s power is on display for others to see.

In each instance, this type of fellowship with God requires the initial step of leaving a place of comfort and then journeying to the place to which God has called us. Like Abraham, our next opportunity to trust God is not far away. 

We learn from Abraham to trust our God who gave us promises upon which to build our faith.

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