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Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.   Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.  He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."  Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?"  "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied.  "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?"   Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.  When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!"  "Here I am," he replied.  "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."   Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided." (Genesis 22:1-14)

How often have you thought about Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his own son upon an altar? Have you thought about how you might have felt? -- what you might have done - or said to God!  I know I have, many times. It seemed like the ultimate test of faith - the most difficult request God could make of man. And yet - the scripture tells us that Abraham heard God's instruction and obeyed.  There is no account of hesitation. No stopping to consider alternatives - no reasoning with God.  "But God - this is the son you promised me!"  Abraham saddled his donkey, took wood, two servants and his son, and proceeded to carry out God's command. 

I believe that the moment the God told Abraham that he was to sacrifice his son the sacrifice was already accomplished in Abraham's spirit.  At that moment Abraham chose to obey and in his spirit - Isaac - his promised son - was already sacrificed to God.   The act of sacrifice came in Abraham's spirit - not in the physical act of placing Isaac on the altar and raising the knife to complete the act.  God lives in the spirit of man.  Our obedience, our relationship with Him exists in our spirit.   Isaac was sacrificed when God required him of Abraham - and then - on the third day! - Abraham saw the place where the physical 'acting out' of the sacrifice was to take place.  On the third day Abraham went through the physical actions of placing Isaac on the altar of stone and lifting the knife that would stop Isaac's physical body.   But!  On the third day God delivered Isaac.  To Abraham the son who had been sacrificed three days ago was alive again!

Although Abraham had made the decision to obey God's command at the first moment, he had three days to consider, reconsider, reason and beg God for another way.  He did not waver.  He trusted God.  In his spirit he knew that God would provide a way out of the most horrible of circumstances.  When Isaac asked where the lamb was - Abraham simply told him "God will provide".  He knew that he knew that he knew - with a certainty that God would not take back his promised blessing.  He knew that God would not change His mind about Isaac's future.  He trusted God so completely that he placed himself and his son in God's hands - followed the instructions - and waited!  He waited - knowing that God would provide.  There was no question in his spirit - he allowed no questions to invade his mind.  He talked to no one about what he was about to do.  Can you imagine the conversation that might have gone on between Abraham and Sarah?  What do you think his friends would have said?   He moved on what God said and did not allow any doubt to enter his mind. 

Abraham was God's friend - he trusted Him completely.  Do you have a friend you trust.  If they were to give you a precious gift - then ask for it one day - would you think they would keep it or return it to you?  I believe Abraham knew that God would not take Isaac from him.  He knew it because he knew God.  Abraham had the faith of God - not just faith in God.  He knew the sacrifice would be provided by God. He knew Isaac would be alright - returned to him.  Just as throughout Jesus' time here on earth, through the teaching, through the persecution, through the sacrifice of His physical life - God knew the end!  He knew His son was coming home!!! 

Do you want to be God's friend?  Read His Word - pray for revelation knowledge - believe Him!!!