Devotionals by Raul Ries

WEDNESDAY March 25, 2026

A Faith That Is Tested

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Hebrews 11:17-19

Abraham was tested by God. The Lord asked him to sacrifice Isaac, his promised son: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2). This was the first time in history that God had asked for a human sacrifice. What did Abraham do? By faith, he obeyed the Lord.

Abraham woke up his servants, took Isaac, gathered the wood and the knife, and journeyed toward Mount Moriah. This famous Mount is called the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, where Solomon built the first Temple. Abraham told his servants to wait for him while he and the lad went farther up the Mount. Abraham exhibited his faith because he mentioned that they would both return (Genesis 22:5). He was convinced that, if he obeyed God and sacrificed his son, the Lord was more than able to resurrect Isaac––now that’s faith!

At Mount Moriah, Isaac questioned his father: “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). His father replied: “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). His son willingly submitted to his father’s will, as his father bound him and placed him on the altar. Abraham took out the knife, raised his hand, and was ready to kill his son; but God called to him and told him not to harm Isaac (Genesis 22:12). God saw Abraham’s faith. Then, in a thicket, he saw a ram. God had provided a sacrifice.

This was no coincidence, because 2000 years later on Mount Moriah, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Imagine, way back in Genesis 22:8, we have the promise of God providing a Lamb, as a sacrifice.

If you are going to live by faith, then expect your faith to be tested. A faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.
~Warren W. Wiersbe~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!