We are nearing the end of our study of Abraham’s life, and we’ve left out as much as we’ve discussed. We could spend a year teaching on the historical and spiritual significance of Abraham’s life. The most prominent story of Abraham in the bible is probably the most troubling to modern readers. It’s the story of God asking Abraham to offer Isaac on Mount Moriah.
If you summed the whole account up in one word, it’s a story of total and complete surrender. Most Christians know how the story ends. Abraham proceeds to Moriah, preparing an offering to the Lord. As he’s getting to a place of no return, an angel of the Lord stops him, and God provides a ram for the offering.
God asked for Isaac, but He never really wanted Isaac. He was after Abraham’s heart. We don’t know to what depths, but somewhere deep within Abraham’s heart, there was a war over who was going to sit on the throne of Abraham’s heart: God or Isaac.
God’s gift to Abraham was becoming an idol of his heart. And Abraham’s entire future, including all the promises that God gave him, depended on Abraham having his heart right. This experience of surrender in Mount MOriha was a test to get Abraham’s heart back.