Station 3: Abraham is Tested to Sacrifice Isaac

Before reading this poem, take a moment to tune into the Spirit.

Get comfortable where you are sitting. Feel free to light a candle or close your eyes. 

Take a few deep breaths and focus on the movement of the air gently expanding and contracting your lungs. 

Be still and know that this is the Spirit rushing through you.

When you are ready, begin by Meditating on the words of this Poem

Heaven’s promise to a frail humanity

Bore a nation out of impossibility;

Given the paradox of age.

Abraham and Sarah were old and barren,

yet God had delivered on his promise;

the miracle of Isaac.

But now God is asking 

to release the blessing.

Young arms,

carrying sacrificial wood.

Weak hands,

tying down the son.

An understanding heart is 

laid upon the altar.

“Stop!”

A sacrifice has already been provided

A faith has been tested.

Take with You

Before God called him to be the father of many nations, Abraham was from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans. There they worshiped astrological gods; such as the sun, moon, and stars. The highest honor you offer in this sacrificial system was a human life. Abraham lived in this environment for 70 years before God called him.When God instructs Abraham to sacrifice his only son of the promise, Isaac, he is confronting Abraham’s religious beliefs. In this historical context, I envision God’s test to Abraham as this: will you allow your religious ideas of what you think I need to get in the way of the promises I have spoken?  Abraham moves forward with the sacrifice, obedient to what God said. He wants to honor God. So God honors him because in the heart of Abraham was someone who trusts even in the face unknowing. We can’t fully understand God. But if we approach God in this humility, it produces great revelation. 

Genesis 22