On The Mountain Of Absolute Surrender

Genesis 22:1-19 ON THE MOUNTAIN OF ABSOLUTE SURRENDER 1. Abraham's Test INVOLVED PERCEPTION (We must be in a position to hear God.) 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. A.This Demands A Relationship - Abraham came to know the Lord back in Genesis chapter 12. GOD'S CALL OF ABRAM v.1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram GOD'S COMMAND TO ABRAM v.1 Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: GOD'S CONTROL OF ABRAM v.2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. GOD'S CONVERSION OF ABRAM v.4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him Their relationship had problems, (Ill. Lot - 12:4; Egypt - 12:10-20; Hagar - 16:1-4; Gerar - 20:1-18 ) B. This Demands A Readiness - As soon as God speaks, Abraham responds! John 4:23. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. C. This Demands A Revelation - 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 1. Notice How God Defines His Commands - "thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest." Abraham's son Ishmael had already been sent away. Now, the command comes that would take Isaac away as well. Note: God wants nothing less than everything - Luke 14:26-27 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 2. Notice How God Details His Commands - God was very precise about what Abraham was to do. v.2 Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. Notice four thoughts...Isaac Like Christ In His I. SUPERNATURAL BIRTH...Gen. 17 1. The Promise of the Child...v 15-19 2. The Problem of Conception...v 17 Rom 4:19 3. The Producing of the Child...Gen. 21:1-3 II. SILENT BOYHOOD...Gen. 21:1-8 You will notice just about the same things are said about the boyhood days of both Isaac and Christ. 1. His Conception is mentioned.. V 2 2. His Chosen name is given him.. V 3 3. His Circumcision is performed.. V 4 4. His Continued growth is mentioned.. V 8 III. SACRIFICIAL OFFERING...Gen. 22 1. The Planner.. V 2 2. The Plan. ..v 2 3. The Place.. V 2 4. The Picture., V 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 5. The Promise.. V 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. IV. SUPERNATURAL RESURRECTION...Gen. 22 1. The Death of Isaac... V 9-10 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 2. The Deliverance of Isaac.. V 11-13 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 3. The Disappearance of Isaac.. .Not mentioned again until Gen. 24:62, And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. (after the bride is chosen.) This is a picture of the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Notice How God Darkens His Commands - God does not explain the "why?" to men! v.2 Take now thy son II. Abraham's Trust INVOLVED PREPARATION V. 3-5 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. A. His Hands Were Prepared - V. 3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning John 9:4. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 1 Cor. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; B. His Head Was Prepared - V. 4-5 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Abraham had three days and three nights to think about what was about to happen. We are called to walk by faith, Rom. 1:17; For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 2 Cor. 5:7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) C. His Heart Was Prepared - V. 5 Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. Heb. 11:17-19. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. Gen. 22:8 - "will come again!" 1 Cor. 6:19-20. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. III. Abraham's Testimony INVOLVED PARTICIPATION V. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. A. This Participation Is Personal - V. 6 Abraham personally placed the wood on Isaac. He personally took the fire and the knife and he personally led the way. Phil. 2:5-8; Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Luke 22:42.Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. B. This Participation Is Profound -V. 7 & 8 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. C. This Participation Is Powerful -V. 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. IV. Abraham's Triumph INVOLVED PRESENTATION 1. He Received God's Provision -V. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. Abraham's faith honoured the Lord and God honoured Abraham's faith. 2. He Received God's Praise - V. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. God doesn't want you Isaac's, He wants you 3. He Received God's Promise -V. 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Matt. 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. V. Abraham's Tribute INVOLVED PROVISION WE ARE TOLD OF A GREAT SUBSTITUTE V. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. A. It's Provision - and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: B. It's Purpose - offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. C. It's Picture - 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. John Ch. 1 v 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.