The First Mention of Love and God's Nature

Genesis 22:1–13: "The First Mention of Love"

Scripture: Genesis 22:1–13

Beloved, today we come to one of the most profound and challenging passages in all of Scripture—Genesis 22, the testing of Abraham. It is a story that has puzzled and inspired generations, not just because of what Abraham was asked to do, but because of what it reveals about the heart of God.

In verse 2, we read:
"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."

This is the first time the word “love” appears in the Bible. It is not between Adam and Eve. It is not in the story of Noah or the patriarchs up to this point. No, the first mention of love in the entire Bible is in the context of a father and his only son—and the potential of sacrifice.

What does this teach us about love? About God's love?

First, it shows us that true love is costly. Abraham's love for Isaac was deep and undeniable. Isaac was the child of promise, the miracle child, the joy of Abraham’s old age. And yet God calls Abraham to give him up. Why? Not because God delights in pain, but because He is painting a picture, setting a stage for something far greater than we can imagine.

Second, we learn that God’s love is not just demanding—it is providing. As Abraham lifts the knife, a voice from heaven stops him. And then, in verse 13, Abraham sees a ram caught in a thicket—a substitute. A life in place of a life. The test was never about the death of Isaac. It was about Abraham’s heart, and about God's plan of salvation.

The love shown here anticipates another Father, and another Son. Thousands of years later, on another mountain not far from Moriah—on Calvary—God the Father did not hold back His only Son. The first mention of love in the Bible is about a father's willingness to give up his son. The fullest expression of that love is when God actually goes through with it.

John 3:16 echoes Genesis 22:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."

Beloved, God’s love is not sentimental. It is sacrificial. It is not merely emotional—it is redemptive. Abraham said to Isaac in verse 8, “God himself will provide the lamb.” And He did—not just for Abraham, but for the world.

So when we speak of God’s love, we are not talking about a warm feeling or a gentle breeze. We are speaking of a love that gives. A love that sacrifices. A love that saves.

Let us receive it with awe, and live in response to it with trust. Amen.

More: Lesson 2 - The Genesis Foundation