"NOW I KNOW!"

Genesis 22:9-14                                  (ESV)
"9 When they came to the place of which GOD had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.
11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
12 HE said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for "NOW I KNOW" that you fear GOD, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from ME."
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 So Abraham called the name of that place, "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."



The account of Abraham offering Isaac as an offering is one that has always been difficult for me to grasp.  It became even harder after my sons were born and me trying to imagine GOD asking me to offer either of them as a sacrifice.  Being able to willingly take the life of someone you love must be the most difficult thing imaginable.  Maybe that is why GOD led Abraham up Mt. Moriah to display his faith that GOD would provide.

Most of us would probably want to say that we think GOD would not put us in a similar position.  HE is a loving GOD that according to scripture considered Abraham HIS friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8).  Trying to envision a friend of mine hearing that I requiring them to sacrifice one of their children to display their love for me is not something I care to dwell on.  Yet Abraham journeyed up the mountain and built an altar with the express intent of using Isaac as an offering to GOD ALMIGHTY, without hesitation.

When GOD saw that Abraham was carrying through as instructed, GOD intervened, providing a ram caught in a thicket by his horns.  GOD told Abraham not to harm the boy, for "NOW I KNOW" that you fear GOD and will be obedient.  But we all know that GOD is sovereign and knows everything that has ever happened and will ever happen, so why did HE say "NOW I KNOW" to Abraham?  Was GOD enlightened to find out that Abraham was being obedient?  Could Abraham have failed in this test?

To understand that GOD knew Abraham was going to be obedient, and that a sacrifice would still be needed (ram in a thicket) is not the part that amazes me.  Sure GOD knew that Abraham would be obedient, but Abraham found out on Mt. Moriah that day what GOD already knew!  Because of Abraham's faith that GOD was REAL, and that "GOD will provide for HIMSELF" a lamb, he now was able to see evidence of his faith.  While it was true that GOD said for "NOW I KNOW" to Abraham, it was also true that Abraham could now say "NOW I KNOW" that GOD will do what HE says!!