Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.
Genesis 22:12b

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
Genesis 22:1–12

Commentary

If you recall, Sarah’s motherhood journey started with a laugh, but ultimately she delivered the child of promise. Having struggled to conceive, and after decades of waiting, I imagine Sarah was just a little protective:
… protective of the child she waited years to hold,
… the child she once laughed about,
… the child she finally nursed in her old age.

Yes, I imagine Sarah was very protective of the child who represented all her hopes and dreams. After all, she sent away his older brother — the one she brought here on a technicality — because she didn’t like how he handled her child of promise. Yeah, one thing Sarah didn’t play about was her Isaac.

Sooo, imagine getting ready for bed and your husband goes, “Hey, babe, I’m taking Isaac to sacrifice him on the altar in the morning.”

SAY WHAT?!? Ain’t no way.

Or imagine your excitement when they return, you kiss your son on the forehead and ask him how the trip went, only for him to say,
“It was wild. Dad tied me up and put me on the altar, and right before he dropped the dagger on me, this ram appeared.”

SAY WHAT?!?

We usually hear about what Sarah said or did as we read about Abraham, but she is absent from the whole sacrifice story. Yet, there is so much that can be gleaned from Sarah in this story.

Here’s what we do know: Regardless of whether he told his wife or not, Abraham took Isaac to do what he intended. Without specifying what Sarah said or did, the Bible is very clear that Abraham was fathering — and without interruption. Because, remember, Sarah has not historically been a quiet, non-involved wife. She is indeed very hands-on:

• “Here, go ahead and play in these streets and have us a baby.”
• “Naw, I don’t like how your soon-to-be baby momma looked at me. You better get her, Abe.”
• “Laugh?!? I was way in the tent.”
• “Ishmael has to go.”

Does Sarah sound like a woman who was just going to go with the flow if she had an objection? Not at all. Which is why her silence in this story is so powerful. Sarah was very protective of her family, but she did not block Abraham’s role as father in Isaac’s life.

This wasn’t just tossing the ball out front or dealing with a scraped knee. This was Abraham taking his son on a solo trip — without her watchful eye to object or insert a second option. IYKYK.

Had Sarah interfered, Abraham may not have fully walked out the test God had set before him.

Had Sarah interfered, Abraham would not have been able to demonstrate his powerful faith in God for his son to see.

Had Sarah interfered, their family would not have been blessed — but not just blessed — blessed generationally
(see v. 15–18).

In this story of faith, we learn the power of a mother’s silence and support — and, most importantly, how God can grow our families without our intervention.

If you can’t say Amen, say ouch.
(OUCH! I stepped on my own toe!)

To all the men in our lives:

Happy Father’s Day!

Through our lens, we see the love, strength, and presence you bring to our children’s lives — and we love you for it.

ME Notes

• Sometimes our children become our life mission — unintentionally at the expense of our spouse and their father.
• Children need, and gain something, from having experiences with both parents — even through our mistakes or theirs.
• We have to trust God, and love them enough, to allow them to walk through hard moments — without us stepping in, fixing, or correcting once mistakes are made.
• Our interference can stop their growth, and in some cases, delay or block blessings God intended for them — and for us.
• Sometimes our control isn’t protecting — it’s preventing. Growth happens when we surrender control, not when we tighten it.
• It’s okay to be silent and let things play out as God intends — even when we don’t agree with the process.

Through Our Lens

As mothers, we spend months dreaming and preparing for the child in our womb. When they arrive, we instinctively respond to, and even anticipate, their basic survival needs. And as they develop, we carefully instruct, guide, and watch over them. We call it a mother’s love.

The Bible speaks to that bond, and new scientific research suggests that a child leaves part of themselves in the mother’s body after delivery — physically linking that bond for life.

But God didn’t create man and woman, father and mother, by mistake. In His design, each plays a unique role in contributing to the godly offspring He desires.

In many of our matriarchal cultures, it can feel difficult to step back and let dad be dad — for both sons and daughters. But if Scripture alone doesn’t fully convince us, research continues to confirm the importance of fathers being actively engaged, not just present as a figurehead, but as living participants in parenting, discipline, protection, identity, and emotional stability.

The next time you feel that urge to disagree, redirect, or set the parameters, take a moment to ask God to give you a heart like Sarah — who called Abraham lord and whose faith was counted among the faithful. You don’t have to do it all. Let go. Let dad be dad. And trust God to carry you — and your family — to the other side.

Prayer

Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of fatherhood — and for the unique way You’ve designed man and woman to care for the children You’ve entrusted to us. Help us release control and teach us to trust You to work through fathers to fulfill their roles in our children’s lives.
You said there is a time for silence and a time to speak up. Teach us to recognize when silence is obedience to you. Strengthen dads in their role with Your wisdom, and give us a heart that supports, encourages, and trusts — even when the process looks different than our own. May our families walk fully in the generational blessings You’ve prepared.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.