Abraham's story is marked by sacrifice. In the beginning, he is asked to sacrifice everything comfortable and familiar, leaving behind home, family, and land. But at least every sacrifice God called him to make was balanced by a promise of blessing of a new home, new family, and new land. But in our passage, Abraham is asked to make a sacrifice unlike any before to sacrifice with nothing to gain. He is asked to not just kill his son but to kill all hope in the promises of blessing that he was banking on. This is a test to determine if your trust is really in the Lord or merely in the things he promises you.