January 9, 2026 - Genesis 22-23

I typically find myself, here in Genesis 22, just stopping and wondering with amazement at the story:  God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son, the son of promise, Abraham sets out to do the deed, and as father raises the knife over his son on the altar, the Lord stops him and says, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me” (22:12).  “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son” (22:13).  What faith Abraham had to have in those moments, that God would provide!  Furthermore, God reminded Abraham of his promise:  “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore” (22:17).  What faithfulness God showed toward Abraham as he kept Isaac safe and continued to make good on his covenant promise!  A man of great faith and a faithful God!  Doesn’t get much better than that!  Soon, Sarah would die and would be buried but Abraham remained a man of faith and God continued faithful.

Abraham, when severely tried,

His faith by his obedience showed;

He with the harsh command complied

And gave his Isaac back to God.

His son the father offered up,

Son of his age, his only son,

Object of all his joy and hope,

And less beloved than God alone.

The father curbed his swelling grief—

‘Twas God required; it must be done—

He staggered not through unbelief;

He bare his arm to slay his son.

He rested in Jehovah’s pow’r;

The word must stand which God has said;

He knew th’ Almighty could restore,

Could raise his Isaac from the dead.

Oh, for a faith like his!   -- Charles Wesley (18^th century)