God will provide for Himself

It is likely that most of us have heard, or read of this event in scripture...
when Abraham was tested in his obedience to God... to sacrifice his son, Isaac.
So I won't tell of every detail, but only those revelations that have truly struck me as of late.

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 
Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  
And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  
But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Genesis 22:3-8 (NKJV)

None of us can ever seem to grasp the concept of sacrificing our child, so I won't even begin there... nor the fact that Abraham rose early, because I can neither imagine being eager, nor rushing to obedience with this offering.
But where I will begin is with the fact that Abraham took two young men and a donkey with him.  And it's only because I wonder why.  Could it simply be due to the fact that they climbed for three days before Abraham found the place that God showed him?  I mean, Abraham did not know how long it would take, so maybe he just planned for additional supplies. And what a long three days that must have been inside his mind... thinking on this sacrifice.  For surely Abraham has told no one on this journey what God has asked him to do.

And when he parts ways with the two men, asking them to stay behind, Abraham's faith is evident, in simply saying, "...we will come back to you."  But I do wonder if it is to reassure himself, or anyone else, the two men, or even Isaac, who may be wondering by now of his intent... since there is no animal.

They continue on...
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son...
This verse astounds me. For this certainly was the heavier of the load, compared to what Abraham will carry.  But it is a foretelling of our Savior on His way to Calvary... carrying His cross.  It is prophetic, perhaps without Abraham's knowledge. I wonder why he asked it of Isaac?  To keep him busy, occupied, and not overly thinking this errand?

Yet on the way, Isaac questions it all.
“My father!”
Abraham said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Isaac has been with his father when offerings are made.  He obviously understands how it is done. That you must bring along the very best of what God has given you.  And he has journeyed with his father for three days.
Surely, his father is less than talkative this time.
We speak so often of Abraham's faith... and it was great, I do not doubt.

But what of Isaac's faith?
When his father tells him,
“My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.”
and Isaac does not argue, nor ask questions, he simply accepts the answer.
Surely, Isaac's faith has increased.
God will provide for Himself the lamb...
So the two of them went together.

And when they reached the top, Abraham built the alter, placed wood in order, and then bound Isaac... did he put up a fight?  For it does not say so.
What of Isaac's faith... surely, it increased.
He must have believed in his father Abraham.
He must have believed in his Father God.

For maybe there were times that he saw his father Abraham...
in the presence of his Father God.
Maybe he overheard the promises himself, and knew.
Or maybe, God simply gave him the grace and peace to believe.

But certainly Isaac's faith increased that day...
along with Abraham's.
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said,
“Abraham, Abraham!”  
And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him;
for now I know that you fear God,
since you have not withheld your son,
your only son, from Me.

Word of God... train me, today...
to trust You will always provide, even in a time of sacrifice 

​Lord God, there are days when my faith is weak.
When it feels as if I am climbing uphill for days
and I have not seen the places that You are.

I cry out to You, please meet with me...
​please show me where You are.
I am longing for my faith to increase.
And I desire trust You always, Lord...
for You alone are my Savior.

For when we were sinful and lacking,
unable to save our selves...
You made a way.
God will provide for... Himself the Lamb.

Please, Lord, don't let my faith falter now.
Keep me close, keep me near.
Give me the grace to always believe.

Give me the faith of Abraham.
​Give me even greater... the faith of Isaac.