Abraham And Isaac Series

June 11, 2022

The genealogy of Shem in Genesis 11:10-32 marks an important change in Genesis. From this point onward, the Old Testament will, almost exclusively, tell the story of one family – the family of Abraham.

Abram was born in Ur {not far from Babel} just 5 generations after the events of Genesis 11:1-9. His 3x’s great grandpa Peleg would have still been alive to tell the story of that crazy day. As a matter of fact, his 8x’s great grandpa Noah would have still been alive to share the stories of the Antediluvian world and the flood that destroyed it.

After Abram’s brother, Haran died, the family moved to the city of Charan, 600 miles north of Ur and it was there that God called Abram into a special relationship with Himself.

• Genesis 12:1-2 - Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; 2 and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so, you shall be a blessing;

We all know the story – the moments of triumph and great faith – it occupies a bit over 14 chapters in Genesis {12-25:8}.

• Genesis 12:4 - So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

• Genesis 14:14-16 - When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

• Genesis 15:5-6 - He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars -- if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Which brings us to our story today {Genesis 22:1-14} –

Abraham was 120 years old. He was an old man - no longer strong and vigorous – his veins no longer coursing with the courage of youth.

He was also rich – very rich. Thousands of sheep and cattle dotted the hillsides.

Isaac – the son of promise - was now a young man of 20. Life was good … that was about to change:

• Genesis 22:1-14 - Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." 3 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 wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there, and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 And he said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." 13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."