Genesis 22 | Faith Tested and the God who Provides

Faith Tested: Genesis 22 and the God Who Provides

Genesis 22 tells one of the most challenging and profound stories in the Bible—Abraham’s faith being tested in the most unimaginable way. After years of waiting for the promised son, Isaac, God tells Abraham to sacrifice him. How does Abraham, who has seen God’s faithfulness time and time again, respond? And what does this story teach us about God’s provision, faith, and obedience?

Part I: The Call to Sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-8)

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? God tests Abraham’s faith in a way that seems unthinkable. After all the years of waiting for Isaac—the child of promise—God tells Abraham to take him to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2). This is the child through whom God promised to make Abraham the father of many nations. Now, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice him. How can this be? What about God’s promises?

The situation seems impossible. How can Abraham be the father of a nation if he has no son? It’s a huge ask, and the weight of it is hard to grasp. And yet, Abraham’s response is nothing short of remarkable. He doesn’t argue or hesitate. The Bible simply tells us that Abraham “rose early in the morning,” prepared the journey, and set out (Genesis 22:3). Though Abraham isn’t perfect and has his flaws, he demonstrates a deep faith in God’s character. Abraham has seen God’s faithfulness up close, and though this is a test unlike any he’s faced before, he trusts in God’s goodness.

The Bible Project points out a few clues that suggest Abraham didn’t think Isaac would die. For one, in verse 5, Abraham tells his young men, “I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Abraham seems confident that both he and Isaac will return. In verse 8, he says, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” Abraham is willing to obey God, but he also believes that somehow, God will provide a way out.

Part II: The Test and the Provision (Genesis 22:9-14)

When they reach the mountain, Abraham prepares the altar and binds Isaac to it. The tension in the story builds as Abraham takes the knife to sacrifice his son. But just as he is about to carry out the act, the angel of the Lord stops him:

“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” (Genesis 22:12).

In that moment, Abraham’s faith and obedience are affirmed. And then, as if to punctuate the entire test, God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute for Isaac. Abraham sacrifices the ram in Isaac’s place, and the place is named “The Lord will provide” (Genesis 22:14). This is such a pivotal moment. Not only does it confirm Abraham’s faith and obedience, but it also shows us something profound about God’s nature. God is a provider. Abraham was willing to give up what was most precious to him, but in the end, God provided exactly what was needed.

This story is also a prophetic picture of the Gospel. Like Isaac, Jesus would later carry the wood of the cross up the same hill—obedient to the Father’s will. But unlike Isaac, who was spared death by the provision of a ram, Jesus willingly became the sacrificial Lamb for us. God did not withhold His Son. Just as Abraham trusted that God would provide, we trust in the ultimate provision God made for our salvation—Jesus Christ.

Part III: The Promise Renewed (Genesis 22:15-18)

After the test, God reaffirms His promises to Abraham. The angel of the Lord calls out a second time, declaring, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you” (Genesis 22:16-17). God promises to multiply Abraham’s offspring and bless all nations through them.

God renews the covenant He made with Abraham, assuring him that his faithfulness won’t go unrewarded. But here’s the catch: Abraham won’t see the fullness of these promises in his lifetime. He won’t see the countless descendants that come from him. He won’t witness all the nations being blessed through his lineage.

This is where Abraham’s story intersects with our own. Just like Abraham, we may never fully see the legacy of our faith or witness the fruits of our obedience. But we are still called to remain faithful. Abraham’s obedience wasn’t about immediate rewards; it was about trusting God’s promises, even when they seemed far off. His faith looked beyond his lifetime.

Imperfect, Yet Faith-Filled

Abraham’s journey through Genesis 22 isn’t a story of perfect faith, but of faith in a perfect God. Abraham was imperfect, just like us, but his faith was placed in the right place—in the God who provides. It wasn’t about having a perfect amount of faith, but about trusting God’s goodness and His ability to provide.

For us, it’s not about having flawless faith, but about placing our faith in the right object: God. Abraham’s faith wasn’t based on understanding the whole picture. It was rooted in trust in God’s character. God had been faithful to him in the past, and Abraham believed He would be faithful again.

Conclusion: The God Who Provides

Genesis 22 is a powerful story of faith, obedience, and provision. Abraham’s willingness to obey God, even when it didn’t make sense, was met with God’s provision. And it points forward to the greatest provision of all: Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was sacrificed in our place.In our own lives, we will face moments where our faith is tested. Like Abraham, we are called to trust God and obey, even when the cost is high. But we can trust that, like Abraham, God will provide what we need. He is faithful to His promises, and He will provide for us, even when we don’t see how.

Abraham’s story invites us to examine where we place our trust. Is it in our ability to provide, or is it in the God who has already provided everything we need? May we walk in the same faith and trust in the God who provided a way for us through Jesus Christ.
This chapter is a reminder that we are not called to be the heroes of our own stories. We are called to trust the One who is the ultimate hero—the God who provides.

*Series Note: I am currently in a Masters in Applied Leadership program at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. In our Bible Survey class we are to select a chapter from our assigned weekly reading to mediate on and write a brief devotional. These blog posts are adapted from these weekly assignments.