Genesis 22:2 (KJV)
“Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”
The Story We Know—And the Detail We Miss
We know the story: Abraham obeys a command that makes no sense to him, and God receives his submission as the heart of the sacrifice, providing a ram as a substitute for Isaac (Gen. 22:11–14). Many of us grew up with Sunday School art that pictured father and son in a lonely wilderness—just two silhouettes on a windswept ridge. It feels like a private struggle between Abraham and God alone.
Moriah—The Temple Mount
Scripture adds a striking detail: “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah…” (2 Chronicles 3:1, KJV). The very name Moriah ties Abraham’s test to the site God later chose for the temple. This places the scene not in the middle of nowhere, but at the heart of the place that would become Jerusalem’s worship center.
And earlier in Genesis, Abraham had already met Melchizedek, the “king of Salem” and “priest of the most high God” (Genesis 14:18–20). Psalm 76:2 links Salem with Zion, strengthening the traditional identification of Salem with Jerusalem. Put together, the biblical breadcrumbs suggest that Abraham’s submission—and God’s substitution—unfolded where the city would one day stand, within sight of others and at a site God would make central to public worship.
Submission and Substitution, in View of the World
If Moriah is the later temple mount, then Genesis 22 is not a private devotion tucked away in the desert. It is a public declaration:
- Abraham’s faith and obedience—he trusts God with what he treasures most.
- God’s mercy and atonement—He provides a substitute in the thicket.
That twofold testimony would be echoed for centuries as worshipers gathered at the temple: sin deserves death, yet God graciously provides a substitute. Ultimately, this points beyond the ram to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
When Your Test Goes Public
We’d often prefer to process our hardest trials “out in the desert,” far from any watching eyes. But sometimes God allows our tests to unfold where neighbors, coworkers, and even skeptics can see. Why?
- So others can watch faith at work. Trust is easiest to claim in private; it shines in public.
- So God’s provision is unmistakable. When the “ram in the thicket” appears, there are witnesses.
- So our hope points to Christ. Our obedience is never the hero of the story—God’s Substitute is.
Take-Home
- Hold nothing back. Abraham’s “only son” language presses on our dearest treasures (Gen. 22:2).
- Trust God’s timing and place. If He puts your test “on a mount” in public view, He will also provide there.
- Point people to the Substitute. Let others see not your strength, but Christ’s saving mercy.
Prayer
Lord, when You lead us to Moriah, fix our eyes on Your Son. In public or in private, teach us to trust and obey, and let others see Your perfect provision in Jesus Christ. Amen.