Title: Abraham and Isaac
Text:
Theme
Introduction
Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." (Gen 22:1)
There are at least four times in the Bible where we read that Abraham’s faith was tested.
First was his call. God called him out of the Ur of Caldees and just go
Second was a promise. God made a promise. To make him a great
nation. To give him a great heritage. This was before any
child was ever born. It was a promise that he would not see
for another 25 years.
Third he changed his name. It’s a promise of the scripture.
When you come into that covenant relationship with Christ
You are a new creature. With that you receive a new name.
You can shake off the labels of the world.
Fourth was here when he tested him. God fulfilled His promise
to Abraham but He testing him on his greatest
accomplishment.
1 Peter 1:6 NLT So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 7 These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Gen 22:2)
This would be the greatest test of Abraham’s life. There is nowhere in scripture where we read that God condones human sacrifice. Yet this was a true test. What would Abraham do?
Who was Isaac? Isaac was the promise child of Abraham. This was the child that God has promised to him when he was 75 years of age. This is the child that the Lord said he was going to bless him through. Yet the Lord is telling him to sacrifice him.
Why would God test Abraham on this?
Full Life Study Bible Genesis 22:2:
The question had to be answered "was Abraham's hope of the fulfillment of the promise still in God, or did he now hope in something else, i.e. in Isaac?" Now that you have received the blessing do you no longer need God, or faith in God?
So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. (Gen 22:3) Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. (Gen 22:4)
“he split the wood” – he made the preparation. Nobody can sacrifice your Isaac for you.
For three days they took the journey to the mountain. Could you imagine what was going through Abraham’s mind? I believe this was a quite lonely trip. What was Abraham going to tell his people? What was he going to tell Isaac?
And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you." (Gen 22:5)
This has to be a true testament of faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. (Heb 11:17-19)
If we could only get this kind of faith in our spirit. The kind of faith that trust God no matter the circumstances. The kind of faith that says I may be down but I won’t be down forever. The kind of faith that says I may be going through something but that is the good news I don’t have to reside here, I don’t have to stay here it is just a blip on the map it is just a stopping off point.
“We will come back” Me and my promise. We are coming back. Why? Because I have faith in God.
He had a heritage to watch out for:
Genesis 22:16-18 and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son-- (17) blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. (18) In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. (Gen 22:6) But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Gen 22:7)
Isaac had the wood -
Abraham had the knife and the fire.
Knife – the Word Hebrew 4:12
Fire – Holy Spirit cleansing,
Now that was a powerful question. What was Abraham going to say? This is his son. You almost wish the Bible would be more detailed.
And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. (Gen 22:8)
“God will provide”
No matter what happens between here and the time we arrive back I know that God is Jehovah-jierh my provider.
“Abraham’s problem and God’s solution were coming up the same mountain, but the problem couldn't see the solution until it paid the price to reach the top.” – Tommy Tenny
Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. (Gen 22:9)
There are many analogies that compare Isaac to the Lord Jesus Christ
1) He carried his altar up the hill
(Isaac the wood, Jesus the Cross)
2) He was the only son of His father
3) He gave no fight to be sacrificed.
His full desire was to do his father’s will.
Isaac trusted his father enough that he allowed Abraham
And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (Gen 22:10)
But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." (Gen 22:11)
And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." (Gen 22:12)
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. (Gen 22:13)
“Abraham’s problem and God’s solution were coming up the same mountain, but the problem couldn’t see the solution until it paid the price to reach the top.” – Tommy Tenny
And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided." (Gen 22:14)
This is what he said. My God will provide.
JEHOVAH-JIREH - the Lord provides. Or God sees to it. He makes sure there is provision.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
When I need healing I call on:
JEHOVAH-ROPHE: (ro-FEH) "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.
When I am in a battle I call upon:
JEHOVAH-NISSI: (nis-SEE) "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6. He is the one who goes before me
When I need a leader I call on:
JEHOVAH-SABAOTH: (se-ba-OATH)"The Lord of Hosts" The commander of the angelic host and the armies of God
When I can’t sleep I call upon:
JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.
When I feel unrighteous I call upon:
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU (tisd-KAY-nu)"The Lord Our Righteousness" Jer. 23:5, 6, 33:16. From "tsidek" (straight, stiff, balanced - as on scales - full weight, justice, right, righteous, declared innocent.) God our Righteousness.
When I need guidance I call upon:
JEHOVAH-ROHI: (row-EE) "The Lord Our Shepherd" Psa. 23, from "ro'eh" (to pasture).
When I am lonely:
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH:(SHAM-mah) "The Lord is There" (Ezek. 48:35).
Most of all I call upon:
JEHOVAH ELOHIM: "LORD God" Gen. 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isa. 17:6; Zeph. 2:9; Psa. 59:5, etc.
King of Kings and the Lord of Lord.
There is no king that is above Him. There is no king that is like Him. There is no Lord that is like Him. There is no Lord that is equal.
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
God’s blessing
Genesis 22:15-18 Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son; "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 17 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Conclusion
“Abraham’s problem and God’s solution were coming up the same mountain, but the problem couldn't see the solution until it paid the price to reach the top.” – Tommy Tenny
