11:17Hebrews 11:17

By faith Abraham in his old age willingly offered up Isaac when he was tried with the closest test ever required of man, though the command seemed terrible and conflicted with the promises he had received concerning his son.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10+2 Isaac is called his only begotten son because he was the only son of promise, the beloved son through whom God had plainly said Abraham would become a great nation with descendants called through Isaac.1SP 98.3–99.3+2 Abraham obeyed without doubting, hesitating, complaining, or reasoning that the promise could be fulfilled through Ishmael, trusting that the God who gave Sarah a son in her old age could fulfill the promise even if Isaac died by raising him from the dead.1SP 98.3–99.3+4 Through personal anguish the test taught him the cost of redeeming fallen humanity, for Isaac represented God's Son given as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, yet Abraham's sorrow could not equal God's self-denial since Jesus was not spared but endured humiliation, mockery, and crucifixion.STSE 41.2–42.1+1 His obedience stands among the heroes of faith as a pattern for the church today, turning the mind from visible discouraging things to the unseen and heavenly city and strengthening believers to trust God, follow the path He marks out, and give back to God what has been entrusted whatever the consequences.CTBH 238.1+4

By faith the offering of Isaac was the closest test ever required of man, given because Abraham had failed the first test by taking Hagar as his wife instead of patiently waiting for the promise to be fulfilled in Sarah.1SP 98.3–99.3 When he was tried in his old age he willingly offered Isaac in obedience, although he had received God's promises.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10 The command seemed terrible and conflicted with the promises concerning his son, yet he obeyed without complaint because he trusted God completely.ST Oct 25, 1910

Isaac is called his only begotten son in the sense that he was the only son of promise, the beloved son through whom God had plainly said the promise would be fulfilled.1SP 98.3–99.3+4 Through him Abraham would become a great nation, with descendants called through Isaac.3T 368.1–369.1+3 Abraham obeyed God's command to offer Isaac without doubting that the promise would find its fulfillment in him.SG3 105.1–106.2

He believed God meant just what He said in commanding a burnt-offering on Moriah.1SP 98.3–99.3+1 During the three days' journey he did not disbelieve, hesitate, or doubt, did not complain or question its justice, did not let paternal feeling rebel against God, and did not reason that the promise could be fulfilled through Ishmael.1SP 98.3–99.3+2 He obeyed without distrust.1SP 99.4–101.1

He left the servants behind lest their love for Isaac hinder obedience, carrying the fire and knife himself while laying the wood on Isaac.1SP 99.4–101.1 He built the altar, laid the wood in order, bound Isaac and raised his hand to slay him.1SP 99.4–101.1+1 The angel called from heaven to forbid harm to the lad, declaring it was now known he feared God because he had not withheld his only son, and a ram caught in the thicket was offered in his stead.1SP 99.4–101.1+1

Isaac was a full-grown young man who shared faith in the God of his father, loving and reverencing Him.3T 368.1–369.1+2 He freely submitted to being bound and laid on the wood after affectionately embracing his father.1SP 99.4–101.1 He trusted his father's integrity and believed he would not be sacrificed unless God had commanded it, willingly yielding himself to be offered.3T 368.1–369.1+2

By faith Abraham trusted that God could keep His promise even if Isaac died, by raising him from the dead.1SP 98.3–99.3+4 The God who in providence had given Sarah a son in her old age could also give life again and bring Isaac up from the dead.1SP 98.3–99.3+3 He did not doubt that the promise would be fulfilled in Isaac, the only son of promise and the son through whom he was to become a great nation.SG3 105.1–106.2+2 He truly offered Isaac in his heart and made the sacrifice there, keeping looking beyond what he could see.Ms 19, 1886, par. 15–16+2 He trusted God's wisdom and purposes without questioning His dealings, and trusted God's right to lead and to require what He had given.Ms 19, 1886, par. 15–16+2

This faith was counted to him for righteousness.Ms 19, 1886, par. 15–16+1 The test revealed complete obedience and surrender and fear of God.3T 368.1–369.1+2 It showed that what God gives remains His, and that faith gives back to God what has been entrusted.ST Apr 3, 1879+1 Through personal anguish the trial taught Abraham the cost of God's plan to redeem fallen humanity.STSE 41.2–42.1+1 Isaac represented God's Son given as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.STSE 41.2–42.1+1

Abraham's sorrow could not equal God's self-denial in giving His Son.STSE 41.2–42.1+1 Unlike Isaac, Jesus was not spared death but endured humiliation, mockery, and crucifixion.STSE 41.2–42.1 Through Abraham's anguish God impressed upon him the plan of redemption and the self-denial involved in giving His Son to save humanity.STSE 41.2–42.1+1

Hebrews 11:17 places Abraham among the heroes of faith whose lives are set forth as patterns for the Christian church, commended because by faith they obtained promises and performed mighty acts.CTBH 238.1+1 His fidelity to God was made conspicuous, held up before the world so that his example shines as a light to people in darkness.Ms 53, 1902, par. 3+2 He stands among the cloud of witnesses who breasted the evils and difficulties in his way and in the Lord's name braced himself successfully against opposing forces of evil when tried in offering Isaac, sustained and strengthened with the Lord holding him by the hand.Ms 61, 1907, par. 1–3

The faith lesson of the chapter turns the mind away from visible, discouraging things toward the unseen and toward the better country and the heavenly city built by God.Ms 63, 1893, par. 26–27 It presents faith as trust in God that strengthens believers to act faithfully amid difficult circumstances.6MR 296.1–2 The same faith shown by God's servants in sacred history can work in people today as channels of God's power, enabling them to trust God through trials and follow the path He marks out.PK 175.2+2

Abraham's offering of Isaac was recorded for the benefit and instruction of God's servants and workers today, belonging to the history of faithful servants whose trust in God is an example to apply to themselves.RH Sep 30, 1902+2 It encourages them to go forward in faith, do their best, and trust God as they watch, work and pray.RH Sep 30, 1902 He truly offered Isaac in his heart, trusting God even when tested with the command to sacrifice the son through whom the promises were to come, believing God could raise him from the dead and trusting God's wisdom without questioning His right to lead, and this faith was counted to him for righteousness.Ms 106, 1902, par. 9–10+1 His experience gives believers courage to trust God and rely on His promises through tests, whatever the consequences.10MR 119.2

His obedience teaches confidence in God's requirements however close, cutting and painful they are, and that nothing is too precious to give to God.STSE 41.1+1 It teaches children perfect submission to their parents and to God, as Isaac, a full-grown young man, freely submitted, trusting his father's integrity and believing he would not be sacrificed unless God had commanded it.STSE 41.1+1 The test demonstrated that Abraham feared God and had confidence in His word, showing that what God gives remains His and that faith gives back to God what has been entrusted.3T 368.1–369.1+1 Such faith is to be followed by patient humility when corrected and a cheerful, unquestioning response to every requirement of God, since disregarding even one command makes a person a transgressor of the law.4T 253.2