A Faith That Makes Us Willing Series

HEBREWS 11:17-19 [Leaving a Legacy Series]

A FAITH THAT MAKES US WILLING

[James 2:17-24 / Genesis 22:1-10]

Here we encounter another example of faith. This example illustrates that faith manifests itself in actions (CIM). Abraham’s faith is illustrated not by what he believed but by what he did. Abraham was willing to offer up Isaac because of his faith in God and His promises. Abraham’s obedience in the test of sacrificing the child of promise emphatically declares his complete faith in God and in His promises being fulfilled.

Faith in God is able to sustain us even through the very severe tests that come about because of our faith. Faith enables us to perform very difficult duties and obtain very important blessings. But before the growth of faith and the blessings of faith, the testings of faith must come. These testings for growth and blessing come about because we are being obedient to the will of God.

I. THE TESTING OF FAITH, 17A.

II. FAITH IN THE PROMISES, 17B - 18.

III. THE THINKING OF FAITH, 19.

The theme of testing now emerges as the writer returned to Abraham in verse 17. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;”

This dramatic account of Abraham’s supreme test is recorded in Genesis 22:1-18 and is one of the most interesting in the O.T. The voice of God was crystal clear in the heart of Abraham as it shattered the silence of the moment. “Abraham, Abraham, take now your son, your only son Isaac whom you love, and go into the land of Moriah, to a mountain that I will designate, and there I want you to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to Me.” Early the next morning with tremendous faith in his heart but many doubts in his mind, Abraham, Isaac, and two young men started on a journey that took three days, that led them to the base of Mount Moriah. When they arrived at the bottom of the mountain, Isaac looked into the face of his father, and he said, “Dad, we have the wood, and we have the fire, but where is this sacrifice that we are going to offer unto the Lord.” And with a tear trickling down his cheek Abraham said, “Son, God will provide the sacrifice.” As the father and the son trudged up the mountain together, it was revealed to Isaac that he was to be the sacrifice. An altar was built. The hands of Isaac were tied, and he was stretched out upon the altar, and with a prayer on his lips, Abraham lifted up a dagger. He was ready to plunge it into the heart of his son, when once again God spoke, “Abraham, lay not your hand upon your son Isaac. Now I know that you fear me, because you are not even withholding your own son. Look over there in the thicket. You’ll find a ram. Offer that ram as a sacrifice unto me.” With great joy Abraham freed Isaac and laid the ram upon the altar and offered a sacrifice to God, worshiping the Lord. And that day Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah Jireh, or Jehovahurah, which means, “In the mount of the Lord it will be seen-provided,” Or “The Lord will make it clear,” or “The Lord will provide a sacrifice.”

What God was after here was not human sacrifice. The sixth commandment declares “thou shall not kill.” It was not the offering God was after it was the offerer. It wasn’t the sacrifice of Isaac God desired; it was the willingness to sacrifice in the heart of Abraham. God wasn’t looking for the death of Isaac, God was looking for Abraham to die to every selfish purpose and desire so that he could truly say “Lord I am completely yours. [Polson, Sam. By Faith, Climbing Angel Publishing. Knoxville, TN. 2018. P 103.] Take my life and do with me what you will.” God was asking Abraham some basic questions and if Abraham would answer in the right way, God would take the life of Abraham and use Abraham as a model for our faith. So he put Abraham to the test. A faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted.

He was asked to not only give up but to put to death what he held dearest in life, dearer than his own life. This would be death to his hope, if his hope was in this world. But Abraham was up to the challenge. “When being tested, he had offered up Isaac, his only begotten” (Gen. 22:2). The phrase is in the past tense because in his heart and mind he had already done what God had asked of him. The act was already consummated.