“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.” Genesis 22:6-8
The Bible is not definitive about Isaac's age at the sacrifice at Mount Moriah but there are clues that suggest that Issac was not a young child but likely late teens or, according to Jewish tradition, as old as 37 years of age. Isaac carries the wood, he is aware of the required elements of the sacrifice and then the nearness to the biblical account of Sarah's death in Chapter 23 (Sarah 90 at his birth, she died at 127) all suggest that Isaac was older. This is an important detail because Isaac had to have a level of trust and cooperation because Abraham could not have physically overpowered him. The spiritual picture comes beautifully into focus of God the Father choosing to sacrifice His son while God the Son submitted to the will of the Father even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Faith always requires a level of uncertainty, a level of danger, a level of sacrifice of what is precious and a level of hearing God's voice and obeying despite personal suffering. All these elements of faith are built up over time in smaller tests until we are ready for the defining test(s) of our lives. We have been chosen to live in the most important time in human history, the return of Christ, where all the elements of faith are required in full maturity. May we, like Abraham, rise to the challenge and do great exploits to hasten the return of the King.
The Bible is not definitive about Isaac's age at the sacrifice at Mount Moriah but there are clues that suggest that Issac was not a young child but likely late teens or, according to Jewish tradition, as old as 37 years of age. Isaac carries the wood, he is aware of the required elements of the sacrifice and then the nearness to the biblical account of Sarah's death in Chapter 23 (Sarah 90 at his birth, she died at 127) all suggest that Isaac was older. This is an important detail because Isaac had to have a level of trust and cooperation because Abraham could not have physically overpowered him. The spiritual picture comes beautifully into focus of God the Father choosing to sacrifice His son while God the Son submitted to the will of the Father even unto death (Philippians 2:8). Faith always requires a level of uncertainty, a level of danger, a level of sacrifice of what is precious and a level of hearing God's voice and obeying despite personal suffering. All these elements of faith are built up over time in smaller tests until we are ready for the defining test(s) of our lives. We have been chosen to live in the most important time in human history, the return of Christ, where all the elements of faith are required in full maturity. May we, like Abraham, rise to the challenge and do great exploits to hasten the return of the King.