From a previous post on my blog Know His Word:
Now we get to the scripture referred to in James, the testing of Abraham's' faith. Heb 11:17-18 says By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: God now instructs Abraham And he said,Take now thyson, thine only [son] Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Gen 22:2 While there is nothing recorded as to the feelings of Sarah, his mother. The scripture is silent, as we must be. But I can’t help but wonder what she thought. Now the land of Moriah was a three day journey from where they were. Notice what they took with them And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Upon arrival Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Notice he says they will come again to you He knew he was to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering, how could he say that? The scripture says of Abraham; accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Heb 11:19 Let us look at this scene for a moment. I see Isaac carrying the wood for the sacrifice, I see the fire for the burnt offering, which was to be Isaac. I see the two of them on the mountain ALONE, NO WITNESSES. So what if we were there. “Hey Abraham, what are you about to do?” Offer my Son Isaac as a burnt offering. “Who told you to do that”? GOD DID. “REALLY!!” “are you sure, Isaac is YOUR ONLY SON, through him are you to have offspring as the stars of the sky. If you kill him do you think that will happen?” YES!! “WHY??” I believe God will raise him from the dead! NOW THATS FAITH! The obedience of Abraham, And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, here [am] I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me. Gen 22:10-12 And what is it James says?; And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. James 2:23 WHAT SCRIPTURE? Gen 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. His faith was demonstrated by his works. This was a work of faith, different from a work performed through a legalistic relationship. It was spiritual in its roots. Before he ever offered up Isaac, Abraham was declared righteous by God for his faith, just as we are for ours. Did his faith produce works? It did, what kind? Spiritual works, works that when done glorify God.