Lesson 11: Faith Tested

A. INTRODUCTION: GENESIS 22:1

1. What were the four great trials of separation in Abraham’s life?

a. Family. "Get thee out of the country, and from thy kindred" (12:1).

b. Lot/Nephew. "Separate thyself from me" (13:9).

c. Ishmael. "Cast out this bondwoman and her son" (21:10).

d. Isaac. "Take thy son . . . whom thou lovest . . . and offer him" (22:2).

2. Why was this command so difficult?

a. To a Jew, everything is wrapped up in children.

b. To not have a son, was next to death.

B. PRACTICAL TAKE AWAYS

1. The principle of continuous growth. After Abraham had walked with God for over 50 years, he was tested to go to a higher level. "After these things, that God did tempt (test) Abraham" (22:1). God still had lessons to teach him.

2. The principle of approval. God did not test Abraham to break him, but to approve him. The Underwriters Laboratory tests thousands of products to demonstrate that they are good and durable.

3. The principle of thoroughness. The Hebrew word nimmah is perfect tense; authorities indicate it means "tested completely." God wanted Abraham’s total love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart" (Deut. 6:5).

4. The principle of God’s place. "Get thee into the land of Moriah, and offer him there." This is the site of Solomon’s Temple where the Shekinah cloud descended. This is the site of Calvary where the Father offered His Son.

5. The principle of surrender. God did not want the sacrifice of a son; God wanted the surrender of a Father. The Lord does not want our things when He asks for a sacrifice, He wants our complete obedience.

6. The principle of faith. Abraham looked beyond the sacrifice to God’s plan. "Abraham said to his young men . . . I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." He planned to bring his boy back down the mountain. Abraham didn’t know what God had in mind, but God saw Abraham’s faith. "By faith Abraham offered up Isaac . . . accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead: from whence also he received him in a figure" (Heb. 11:17, 19).

7. The principle of substitution. When Isaac asked about the sacrifice, Abraham said, "My Son, God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt offering" (22:8).

a. "God will provide Himself" is interpreted to mean, "God will ultimately provide His Son.

b. The phrase "the lamb" is interpreted to mean a substitute for sin. Abraham looked forward to "The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

8. The principle of provision. When God stopped Abraham, behind him was a ram caught in a bush. Abraham had a ram to offer in the place of his son. "Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide" (22:14 NKJV).

9. The principle that God accepts our commitment. God stopped Abraham, "Lay not thy hand on the lad . . . for I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thy only son from me" (22:12). God accepted the settled decision of Abraham as though he completed the task.

10. The principle of divine circumstance. God worked out small details in the story.

a. Perfect. The ram was caught by the horns, implying the thorns did not scratch it. If it had a blemish, it couldn’t be sacrificed.

b. Timing. When God stopped Abraham, he "looked and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket" (22:13).

c. The kind used in sacrifice.

11. The principle of invisible faith. It is hard to give up the security of what you can see for that which you can’t see. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7).

12. The story is a picture of Calvary. Scholars locate both Moriah and Calvary near Jerusalem. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, but the Heavenly Father went all the way to Calvary for us. "He (the Father) that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Rom. 8:32).

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If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.