The test of faith.

• God never requested human sacrifices (Jeremiah 7:31). Furthermore, sacrificing Isaac went against the promise: “for in Isaac your seed shall be called.” (Genesis 21:12)
  Did Abraham misunderstand God’s order (Genesis 22:2)?
• God was testing Abraham. His heart was being judged (Deuteronomy 8:2). The result was satisfactory (Genesis 22:12)

The fulfillment of the promise.

• Isaac noticed there was no animal to sacrifice. Abraham sidestepped his questions by stating that God would provide one.
• Indeed, God provided the animal for the burnt offering. That animal died instead of Isaac (Genesis 22:13). God confirmed the fulfillment of the promise this way
  (Genesis 22:18).
• God has provided. Jesus is the Lamb who died so we can live (John 1:36; Romans 5:8; 6:8).

Taking possession of the land.

• Abraham “had reached the age of a hundred and twenty years” (E.G.W., PP 147) when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac. Therefore, Isaac was 20 years old, and Sarah was 110 years old.
• 17 years later, Sarah died (Genesis 23:1). She’s the only woman in the Old Testament whose age when passing away is mentioned. She was also the first woman to enter the promised land.
• After negotiating with Ephron, Abraham bought the first piece of land that he could call his own in Canaan (Genesis 23:17-18).

Securing the seed.

• Abraham made plans to find a wife for Isaac to secure his offspring (Genesis 24:1-4).
• There are two remarkable points in this story: prayer [Abraham’s, Eliezer’s, Isaac’s], and trusting that God was in control of the process.
• However, God let Rebekah choose by herself (Genesis 24:8, 50-51, 57-59).

More descendants from Abraham.

• Abraham lived for 175 years (Genesis 25:7). Besides Isaac, he had one son with Hagar (Genesis 25:12), and another six with Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2).
• Abraham sent the seven sons of his concubines far away, because only Isaac could inherit the promised land (Genesis 25:6).
• There are two short genealogical records in Genesis 25:2-4 and 12-18 which emphasize that the promise to Abraham was fulfilled: “and you shall be a father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:4)
• The Lord remained true to His promises of grace to His faithful servant Abraham, whose faith is depicted in Scripture as a great example of salvation by faith.