The Testing of Abraham
Genesis chapter 22:1-22:18
Introduction-
Turn to Genesis chapter 22:1-22:18
This morning I want you to see the testing of Abraham by God. That’s right, you heard me right, God was testing Abraham.
The Bible teaches us that God does not tempt us to do evil, that is done by the enemy of your soul, but God does test us in areas of our life.
He does not test us to know us better, He test us so we know ourselves better.
When you are given a test at school, work, by your parents, it lets you know if you have learned the lesson, or able to apply learned principals.
Genesis 22:1-22:18
Now, scholars and historians are all over the board of when this could of happened, if it happened, at what age Abraham and Isaac were when it happened.
Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.
Some believe that he was between 5-12 and some as old as 37 years old when he was offered on the altar. Even at 37, he would have been 137 years old and Abraham lived to be 175 years old. Factoring age of life to them, it is possible that Abraham was strong enough and able to put Isaac on the altar.
Don’t get caught up on that- learn and see the principal taught here of obedience and the blessings God gives us for our obedience.
Let’s back track a bit-
This is the same Abraham that was promised a son when he and Sarah were old. If fact Abraham and Sarah laughed at God and Abraham with Sarah’s blessing had relationship with slave girl Hagar and had a son. It is not the promised son and right after that Sarah became pregnant just like God said. Abraham’s disobedience then caused them a lot of problems and has caused us problems even today.
Christianity and Muslim communities both believe that Abraham is the Father of the Nation.
The Muslims believe his first son (not the promised one) Ishmael began the descendents.
Christianity believes that the son Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah was the promised son of God. Hagar the slave girl and Ishmael are sent away (Middle-East) and Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac remain
Believe that he was older because he carried the fire wood.
(2) “Take you son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”
That is un-imaginable
Thoughts
God tested Abraham- not to trip him up and watch him fail but to deepen his capacity to obey God, and develop character.
God refines us through difficult times and difficult circumstances.
We have a choice of complaining or see how God can stretch us to develop character.
That morning, after God demands what seems like the ultimate sacrifice, Abraham travels 50-50 miles to the mountain of where he is to sacrifice Isaac.
If Abraham didn’t have a past with God, I don’t think he could have made it
Abraham learned some lessons from his past. He learned this time that he must be prompt and complete.
Obeying God is often a struggle because it may mean giving up something we truly want.
We should not expect our obedience to God to be easy or to come naturally.
I want you to see something-
Why would God want Abraham to sacrifice his Son?
Pagan nations practice this, and God had condemned it. God saw it as terrible sin (Lev 20)
God did not want Isaac to die, he wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in his heart so it would be clear that Abraham loved God more than his promised and beloved son.
God tested Abraham
James says that the testing of our faith develops perseverenace , perseverance must finish its work so that we may be mature and complete- not lacking in anything.
How many would agree that society works basically on feelings and emotions?
If it feels good, I will do it, I have a right to do it no matter if it hurts anybodys feelings.
I am not happy-change it. If it is marriage, quick to abandon it.
Emotional, unrealistic feelings, impulse buying, made and told that you deserve it, wither you can afford it is not the issue.
Happiness without commitment- we see it in relationships. We see no job loyalty.
The feeling of quick gratification and emotional selfishness has crept into the church also. A mature Christian, being tested, going through trials and circumstances is the only way that they learn perseverance is facing trials and seeing how they react and respond.
Christians are like anyone else in so many ways because we are human, but a mature Christian learns the lesson that emotions change, feelings change, but we don’t live our lives on emotions and feelings. We are not governed by our feelings, we are to be people of principal- God’s principals!
Emotions or principals- hard right?
I cannot imagine making that decision. I am glad I don’t have too, but I pray that I have the strength and power to do it if God ask me to do it.
I. God’s Principal or Trusting in ourselves
(5) “He said to his servants; stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham trusted God-
He did not know or understand what was happening or about to happen but Abraham was the man of faith, Father of all who believe (Rom 4) reasoned that if God would ask for his son on that altar, that same God could raise him from the dead.
My ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.
Trust here is a God thing- we are not talking about looking at a chair and believing that it will hold you.
Floor- standing very little faith is needed
Platform- little more faith
Roof-standing on roof more faith required. less of your ability.
Airplane- 30,000 feet off the ground and someone else flying the plane. You are no longer in control.
Then there is God trust- you can’t see it, you don’t understand it, it may not make sense to you.
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, sacrifice him there as an offering.
There no reasoning or logical answer except you know it was from God. Give him to me! Give it to me! Give that circumstance to me!
It was not what you wanted, but he knew God was in it and somehow God will provide.
It was not that he was a bad person, he loved God was going to see what he would do.
Let’s not forget the obedient heart of Isaac
“The fire and wood are here, Isaacs said, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering.
“God himself will provide the lamb for the offering.”
Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it.
He bound Isaac- that had to be a moment,
You must be crazy- I’ll go to the BBQ but I am not going to be the BBQ
No, Isaac allows his father to place him on the altar (God moment)
“Abraham, do not lay a hand on the boy he said, do not do anything to him, now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
The immediate fulfillment of Abraham response was the ram- God provides!
Trust God to provide in those hard times.
God, I can do anything but that!
God does ask us to lay down hard things on the altar.
God would never ask for my son or daughter. Why not? God has to be first.
God the Father sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for us.
He could of stopped it, but He did not! Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice.
(12) “I know that you fear god, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
You know what I am thankful for this morning?
The very things we have a hard time giving over to God are a lot of times the things God blesses us with when we willfully keep an open hand as we give it to him.
Family
Money
Material blessings
Don’t make God pry your fingers off anything……….that will get messy!
II. God’s Principal of Faith or Faith in oursleves
That would take crazy faith, outside of the box faith.
“The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld you son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and sand on the seashore.”
Closing,
There is a blessing on the other side of obedience, and there is even bigger blessing, not blind faith, but for faith that dares God to do something amazing and impossible- supernatural! Far above anything we could think or achieve.
God always has a bigger shovel
God has unlimited resources
Faith that dares.
Abraham knew God would keep His promise- somehow! His faith led him to believe that God had a purpose and that somehow everything would be okay.
I am one who personally believes that when Abraham left his servants on the mountains and Abraham took his son- we will worship and then we will come back to you.” He didn’t see how but he knew that God would provide and take care of him.
I have been challenged this morning to walk by faith than by sight- if we want more of God than that is how it is.
Amen.
