Observation: It's a bit much to ask your servant to kill his own son (oh wait, God knows what this will be like). I love that the preacher in Hebrews articulates Abrahams faith and does so by articulating the faith of Issac, Jacob, and Joseph....the descendants he was promised. their faithfulness is a reflection of Abraham. This section starts to read like a genealogy or a hall of fame of faith.
As a parent, I could never imagine being asked to hand my children over, even if God asked. Abraham's faith was strong enough to trust in the promise that God would give him descendants too many to count through Issac, the one he held his knife over. Reasoning that God might bring him back from the dead. In a sense, the preacher in Hebrews is saying that Abraham trusted in the resurrection of the dead before we knew that was a thing.
Application: I have had relationships cut off from me, from my own stubbornness or the desire of the other person not wanting me in their life. The promise of resurrection is one of bodily resurrection for sure (apostle's creed), but it is also one that God can bring reconciliation and wholeness to a dead relationship. I have had that experience too!
As I walk with people who are struggling with brokenness in their relationships, I hold to the promise of resurrection in their lives and hope to see the fruit of that reconciliation as we see Issac, Jacob, and Joseph imitate the faithfulness of their ancestor Abraham.
Prayer: Lord thank you for the faithfulness of your servant Abraham and the blessing of his descendants.