What are the differences between Yitz'chak and Yishma'el? 

Read B'resheet/Genesis 22:1-18  

     Consider the provisions God has given you. Whose are they? Yours or God's? How about your life?

    Then Yeshua told his talmidim, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him say 'No' to himself, take up his execution-stake, and keep following me. For whoever wants to save his own life will destroy it, but whoever destroys his life for my sake will find it. What good will it do someone if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or, what can a person give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come in his Father's glory, with his angels; and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. [Mattityahu/Matthew 16:24-27]

    By trusting, Avraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Yitz'chak as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises, to whom it had been said, "What is called your 'seed' will be in Yitz'chak." For he had concluded that God could even raise people from the dead! And, figuratively speaking, he did so receive him. [Messianic Jews/Hebrews 11:17-19]

     How was Avraham able to follow God's command?

    Would you be able to return to God what He has given you if He required it?

    What about Yitz'chak? What was the nature of his faith as the sacrifice?

    Notice that in v.14, the God is called Y'hovah Yireh (God provides, or will see to it; the root is ra'ah, which means "to see") It is the only place in the Bible where God is called this. Notice to that His provision comes only after Avraham is tested and proves himself faithful.

    Yes, they spoke against God by asking, "Can God spread a table in the desert? True, he struck the rock, and water gushed out, until the vadis overflowed; but what about bread? Can he give that? Can he provide meat for his people?" [Tehellim/Psalm 78:19-20]

    How well can God provide for His people?

    He said to them, "Because you have such little trust! Yes! I tell you that if you have trust as tiny as a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there!' and it will move; indeed, nothing will be impossible for you!" [Mattityahu/Matthew 17:20] [also Mattityahu 19:26 and Luke 1:37]

     Is anything impossible with God?
    
    God is more concerned about our relationship with Him than what we have or don't have. He gives us many things, but these things are meant to be used to accomplish His will. Sometimes He requires those things of us to remind us that what we have belongs to Him and we are joining Him in His work, not just living to satisfy our own pleasures. We ought to always be thankful for what we have and seek God's will with those things.

     
     Prayer:

    Thank God for what He has taught you in this study. Ask Him to remind you of all the things that He has given you. Ask Him to teach you how to use His provisions to bring glory to Him. In times of testing remember God is Y'hovah Yireh. Look to Him to provide your needs rather than the work of your own hands.