Genesis 22:5 (ESV) – Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

The story of Abraham walking Isaac up the mountain to sacrifice him is a powerful story. There are so many things happening in the story and questions raised by it. The LORD asks Abraham to take his son Isaac, his only son that he loves, to the place that He will show him. Abraham sets off with Isaac and some servants. They have everything in hand for a sacrifice. At some point, Abraham knows where he is to take the boy.

This is where our passage today picks up. We read in Genesis 22:5, “Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.’” After this, Abraham and Isaac set off on a three-day journey to the place where God shows him. Abraham ties down his son and lays him on the altar. But then the LORD intervenes and stops him. Abraham passes the test.

We read in Hebrews 11 that Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead. That’s why he passed the test. He knew that God would keep His promises that Isaac was the offspring in which all the promises God made would come to pass. We know Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead from the passage. Notice it says that Abraham’s response to his young men is that he and Isaac were going to the place of worship, they would worship, and then return. They were leaving. They would worship. They would come back. This may not seem like much at a surface level look, but it signifies that Abraham knew that Isaac would return with him. He had every expectation of sacrificing Isaac on that mountain, but that God would raise him and bring him back alive. 

This incredible passage should encourage us today. The reason Abraham believed these things is because he believed God’s Word. God had made promises about Isaac as the promised offspring. And Abraham believed that God could not do otherwise than keep His word. Friends, the same is true for us. We must believe God’s Word and trust His promises.

We should live our lives acting on the truthfulness of God’s Word. Let them guide your steps today. Find your confidence in the fact that God will always do what He says.

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Reflection & Journal: 
- Why do we know from Genesis 22 that Abraham believed Isaac would be raised from the dead?
- What leads Abraham to believe this conclusion?
- How does Abraham’s trust in God’s Word speak to our own lives today?