My Observations

Repeated phrases: Here I am. Abraham lifted his eyes. Your son, your only son. Offer/offering/offered

Questions: Which mountain does God tell him to go to? When does God tell him that?

Things Noticed: Abraham says that God will provide the offering for Himself. Abraham says “we” will come back, speaking of himself and Isaac. He obeys and goes and does according to God’s command. Abraham builds an altar.

Words/phrases noted: tested, early, third day, worship, wood, fire, knife, laid him upon the wood, shall, from Me

 

Interpretation – What is my understanding from the observations?

Repeated phrases section:

Abraham has a ready response. Here I am. He’s available and listening.

Abraham lifted his eyes and saw what God wanted him to see. He stopped and looked up.

God knew the importance of Abraham’s only son. It being his only son and the wood being laid on Isaac as he’s marching to his supposed death is all reminiscent of the cross which hadn’t happened yet.

Questions section:

He sends him to the mountain that will be the place his temple and altar will be built in the future. We don’t have a record of God saying, this mountain. Somehow God works in Abraham looking up and recognizing that’s where God is sending him.

Things Noticed section:

God asks for the offering but also provides the offering. We’re told later in Scripture that Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Abraham’s obedience is a work of faith. It demonstrated his faith and his faith is counted as righteousness (Rom 4:3). He was saved by faith just as we are. There was a right way to worship God.

Words/Phrases Noticed section:

tested, early, third day, worship, wood, fire, knife, laid him upon the wood, shall, from Me

God is testing Abraham. This whole thing is a setup.

This is the first time the word worship is used in the Bible.

 

Application

Are we ready with a “Here I am!” when God calls, or do we want to know what He’s going to ask first. Are we ready to obey the call?

Is God able to get your attention to show you what He’s put right in front of you? Do you give Him your attention?

We have a good God that gives us what we need to do what He asks of us.

Other topics to study more on: testing, worship