If you read about Abraham in the Bible, you will not find his top 5 recommendations on how to be a great dad. However, if you’ll pay attention to his story, you will see the power and influence of example.
God speaks to Abraham and instructs him to take Isaac, his miracle son, to a mountain and offer him as a sacrifice. It is a shocking request, and one that is difficult for modern readers to understand. Nevertheless, Abraham obeys. He wakes up early the next morning and sets out on the journey with Isaac and a few servants.
When they arrive at the mountain, Abraham instructs the servants to stay behind while he and Isaac continue up to worship. There, Abraham builds an altar and ties Isaac up on it. He raises his knife to kill his son, but at the last moment, an angel stops him and provides a ram for the sacrifice instead.
While we usually read this story and think about Abraham’s faithfulness or God’s provision, there is another aspect of it that is often overlooked. When Abraham and Isaac set out on their journey, Isaac is already a young man, probably around 16 years old according to most scholars. This means that he was old enough and strong enough to resist his father, who would’ve been 116, if he wanted to. Yet, he willingly allows himself to be tied up and placed on the altar.
This is where the story becomes truly remarkable. Isaac’s willingness to be sacrificed is not simply a matter of blind obedience or fear of his father. Rather, it is a testament to the power and influence of his father’s example.
Abraham was a man of great faith, and his trust in God was unwavering, even in the face of seemingly impossible challenges. He left his homeland to go to a place that God would show him, not knowing where he was going. He believed that God would give him a son, even though he and his wife Sarah were well past childbearing age. And now, he was willing to sacrifice that son because he believed that God had commanded him to do so.
Isaac had grown up watching his father’s faith in action. He had seen how Abraham had trusted God through every trial and difficulty, and how his faith had been rewarded time and time again. As a result, Isaac had developed his own faith and trust in God. When he found himself on the altar, he did not fight or resist, but instead chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and trust that God knew what was best.
This is what dads need to see in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Our children watch us and absorb who we are. What do our kids see in us? Do they see faithfulness, integrity, love, discipline, or do they see qualities we hope they never develop? Our example is powerful and it will have an impact whether our example is good or bad. Let’s make it good.