對亞伯拉罕和撒拉來說，以撒的出生是二十多年來信心生活的高峯，因為以撒不但是神蹟之子，也是繼承人！但亞伯拉罕的信心不久就再度受到考驗，上帝呼召他將寶貴的兒子獻在祭壇上，亞伯拉罕順服了，表現出過去二十年的操練並沒有徒然浪費，雖然他的信心指向死亡，上帝回報他的卻是更多祝福的確據。亞伯拉罕晚年，撒拉溘然與世長辭，同時還有另外一件非常重要的事：為以撒娶一個合適的新娘。

        你會不會希望有一個「定時器」，當上帝要在你生命中實踐祂的諾言時就適時響起，準確無誤的告訴你：你為配偶的禱告已蒙應允、所愛的人將獲救恩或是痼疾將癒……？上帝應許給亞伯拉罕一個兒子，在他年復一年的等待之後，想必也曾企盼有一個定時器吧！但從以撒的誕生，上帝說明了一件事：祂的應許或許不會很快實現，但一定會兌現的！「到了上帝所說的日期」（創2l：2），上帝終於履行這個長期的約定。
        把自己預定的時間加諸上帝的應許之上是輕而易舉的，但上帝沒有依你的期望「按時」回答時，所要處理的挫敗與焦慮是相當困難的。試試這個：在卡紙上抄錄創世記二十一章一至二節，把它放在你經常看到的時鐘或日曆旁邊，讓它整天都提醒你：造物主所定的時間始終都是最美好的！

順服的結果
        上帝命令亞伯拉罕獻以撒，並不表示上帝寬恕人類的獻祭（在亞伯拉罕的時代，以人為祭是一種極普遍的異教儀武），而是以自己的應許考驗亞伯拉罕的信心。請查考希伯來書十一章十七到十九節，和雅各二章二十一到二十三節，從這些經文或能得到一些有關這個事件的亮光！

只有在順服的時候，才能體會到上帝旨意裹的大喜樂。

English

        The climax of more than 20 faith-stretch ing years for Abraham and Sarah comes in the birth of Isaac, their miracle son and heir. But soon Abraham's faith is tested again as God calls upon him to sacrifice that treasured son upon an altar. Abraham obeys, showing that the experiences of the past two decades have not been in vain. For his faithfulness to the point of death, God rewards Abraham with further assurances of blessing. In the closing years of Abraham's life, a time saddened by Sarah's death, there remains one important detail: finding a suitable bride for Isaac.

        Have you ever wished you had a "timer" that would tell you exactly when God was going to fulfill His promises in your life? A way to tell with assurance when your prayer would be answered for a helpmate ... the salvation of a loved one .,, the end of an extended illness? Abraham must have wished for such a timer on many occasions as he waited year after year for the son God had promised to give him. But in the birth of Isaac God demonstrated that, though His promises may not come speedily, they will come certainly. "At the set time of which God had spoken" (21:2), He fulfilled His long-standing covenant.
        It's easy to impose your own preconceived timetable upon God's promises ,.. and difficult to deal with the frustration and anxiety that result when God doesn't answer "on time" according to your expectations. Try this instead: Copy the words of Genesis 21:1-2 onto an index card and place it next to a clock or calendar you glance at regularly. Let it refresh your memory throughout the day that the timing of the Creator of time is always perfect.

The Issue Was Obedience —
        God's commands to Abraham to offer Isaac did not mean that God was condoning human sacrifice (a common pagan practice in Abraham's day). Rather. God was testing Abraham's faith in His covenant promises. Check Hebrews 11:17-19 and James 2:21-23 for added insight into this event.

Only in obedience can we discover the great joy of the will of God.