Hebrews 11:17-19

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"

19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

(New King James Version)

Breaking with my tradition of quoting scripture without comment on this blog, I feel that a few clarifying statements are required here. Firstly, the God of the Bible does not condone human sacrifice even though Abraham was commanded to sacrifice Isaac in this particular instance. The sacrifice was never carried out as God who never intended it to happen stopped Abraham before he could complete the act. There is a deeper issue as to whether God ever commands immoral acts, in effect contradicting his own nature. God generally does not do so, but we certainly observe an exception in this case. There is clearly no benefit in extracting any moral precedence from a situation so outrageous, but the enigma serves a purpose here, for it indicates the existence of a spiritual lesson beneath the literal plot. The promises of God in the life of the faithful, like Isaac is to Abraham, are in each case to be surrendered and put to death only to be kept alive by the grace of God. Lest we co-opt his promises and make them our pride instead.

Isaiah 55:10-12

10 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."

(New King James Version)

2 Kings 19:29-34

29 'This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And in the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.

30 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take root downward, And bear fruit upward.

31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.'

32 "Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege mound against it.

33 By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come into this city,' Says the Lord.

34 'For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant David's sake.' "

(New King James Version)

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Psalm 45:1-4

1 To the Chief Musician. Set to 'The Lilies.' A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2 You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon Your lips; Therefore God has blessed You forever.

3 Gird Your sword upon Your thigh, O Mighty One, With Your glory and Your majesty.

4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.

(New King James Version)