Genesis 22:2
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Genesis 22:2
God’s instruction to take Isaac to Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering is the climactic test of Abraham’s faith. The command is staggering: the beloved son, the literal child of promise, is asked to be given up. The specificity of “the land of Moriah” and “one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” emphasizes divine providence and intentional design. God’s request is not arbitrary; it is a tested trust, a scenario through which Abraham’s heart and worship would be exposed and refined. The language sets up the story’s dramatic arc toward provision and the ultimate demonstration of faith.
This passage foregrounds the paradox of worship: obedience that risks loss to reveal God’s trustworthiness. It foreshadows God’s own willingness to offer his Son for humanity, a central Christian interpretive lens, while within the Jewish tradition it underscores devotion to the One who ordains life and calls to a higher allegiance than even cherished family ties. The setting on Moriah becomes a prophetic pointer to the place of ultimate sacrifice and God’s provision.
How do you respond to a divine “call” that costs deeply? The text invites you to examine where your trust lies: in circumstances, possessions, or in the God who provides. Practically, consider a surrender today—holding loosely to a plan, dream, or treasured possession—so you can say yes to what God asks in love. This could be choosing to invest in someone else’s needs, letting go of control in a project, or choosing to forgive rather than retaliate. Your willingness to obey—even when it hurts—reflects a heart shaped by a God who gives what is most costly to him.
Cross-References: Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:12; Romans 8:32