Printed Text
Genesis 22:1-14
Introduction
A. Comparing Price Tags
A well-to-do merchant stood on the dock watching as final preparations were made
for a ship to sail. As he stood there, he was joined by a stranger whose clothing revealed
his poverty. Finally the stranger spoke up. “You seem mighty pleased about watching this
ship sail,” he said.
“Yes,” replied the merchant. “I have seen many ships leave this harbor, but this one
gives me more satisfaction than any other I can remember. You see, on this ship I am
sending ten thousand dollars worth of equipment for a mission hospital in China. I just had
to come down and see that it got off safely.”
“Then we have something in common,” said the stranger, “for I, too, have a gift on
that ship.”
“And what is that gift?” asked the merchant somewhat incredulously.
“My only daughter is on that ship. She’s going to China as a missionary.”
“Then my gift is nothing compared with yours,” came the merchant’s quiet reply.
Like this merchant, Abraham was a man of great wealth. His faith was so strong that
he would readily have given any or all of his wealth to God. However, Abraham’s material
wealth was nothing compared with the gift God asked of him — his son Isaac. Yet
Abraham passed even this test of faith in noble fashion.
Background
After the birth of Isaac (with which last week’s printed text ended), the tensions
between Sarah and Hagar continued to increase. They reached the breaking point when
Isaac was weaned. Sarah demanded that Hagar and Ishmael be sent away, but Abraham
was reluctant to give in to his wife’s demands until God told him to do what Sarah asked.
Isaac was to be the child of promise, God said, but Ishmael, too, would be made a great
nation (Genesis 21:9-14). We find Sarah’s behavior shocking, yet she was acting within
her legal rights when she made her demand. (Some of the laws of ancient Mesopotamia
allowed the primary wife almost complete control over a secondary wife.) Even though
Hagar and Ishmael were sent out into the desert with only a little food and water to
sustain them, God watched over them and cared for them. The young Ishmael grew to
maturity in the wilderness of Paran, located in the Sinai Peninsula.
During this time, Abraham continued to travel about in southern Palestine, seeking
pasture and water for his flocks. After a misunderstanding with Abimelech over a well that
Abraham had dug, the two entered into an agreement that allowed them to live in peace
with one another.
I. Abraham Is Tested
Genesis 22:1, 2
A. God Appears to Abraham (v. 1)
B. God Commands Abraham (v. 2)
What Do You Think?
Isaac was the most precious thing in Abraham’s life. No test could have been more
severe! God does not ask for burnt offerings today, but for a living sacrifice (Romans
12:1). What are some of the things that are most precious to you? How might God
demand you to give them up to serve him?
Do You Have What It Takes?
Reports of widespread persecution of Christians around the world are deeply troubling.
Believers in Communist China must worship “underground,” fearing imprisonment or worse
if they are discovered. Entire villages in the Sudan have been destroyed by militant
Muslims, making corpses, slaves, or refugees of the Christians who live there. In Pakistan,
the “Blasphemy Law” threatens anyone who is perceived as speaking or acting in disrespect
of Mohammed. Christians are being tortured and sometimes killed in these and several
other countries.
One has to wonder, “Could my faith withstand such pressure and abuse? Is my Christian
commitment deep enough to risk or surrender my freedom and/or life if I were forced to
make such a choice?” An even bigger question comes to mind when we consider Abraham’s
experience: “Would I be willing to sacrifice one of my children if God commanded me to do
so?”
Spiritual giants are made, not born. Abraham probably never imagined he had such faith
until he was actually confronted with the challenge. That day on the mountain in Moriah he
grew a spiritual mile. We must remember that though few Christians have what it takes to be
victorious in such situations, we all have whom it takes; and he has overcome the world
(John 16:33).
— RWB
II. Abraham Obeys
Genesis 22:3-10
A. Abraham’s Journey (vv. 3-5)
What Do You Think?
Sometimes when we face a tough challenge, we don’t refuse; we just procrastinate.
Abraham, however, got up “early the next morning” to initiate his obedience. What
benefits do you see in taking immediate action in order to obey? What dangers do you see
in putting it off?
B. Isaac’s Question (vv. 6-8)
C. Abraham’s Preparation (vv. 9, 10)
What Do You Think?
Through all of this, Abraham taught Isaac a powerful lesson in trusting God. Isaac’s
behavior shows that he already had a high degree of trust in God and in Abraham;
otherwise he could and would have resisted. The lesson was not a new one, then, but a
vivid demonstration of an old one, and proof that what Abraham had taught Isaac about
his faith was completely genuine. How may we use crises to teach our children or others
who look to us for guidance to trust in God?
Of course, we cannot lead where we have not gone. How can we be sure our faith is
sound in order to teach valid faith lessons to others?
III. God Intervenes
Genesis 22:11-14
A. An Angel Speaks (v. 11)
B. God Commends Abraham (v. 12)
Tempted or Tried?
My wife recently took a Medical Assistant Certification test — four hours, three hundred
questions. She had studied for some twenty weeks (about two hundred hours) in
preparation. She won’t know her score for three months, but she doesn’t think she did very
well. The questions did not reflect the study material or the sample quizzes that the
candidates were given. One of my wife’s friends said that she was confident of less than
one-tenth of her answers!
This test apparently was designed to fail the testees. It was clearly unfair. By contrast,
God’s intent with Abraham’s test was to prove his faith, not cause his failure. Certain events
in life are allowed to try the quality of our trust and the courage of our convictions. We say
such trials are tests of our faith. That’s different from temptation.
James teaches us that God tempts no one (James 1:13). Temptation is designed by the
devil to cause our failure. God allows us to be tested to strengthen our Christian character
(James 1:2-4). Satan wants to destroy us; God wants to reward us with the “crown of life”
(James 1:12). His purpose in our trials is positive — to temper our commitment and to
harden our resolve. God wanted Abraham to be a spiritual giant, and he wants that for you
and me, too.
— RWB
C. The Substitute (vv. 13, 14)
What Do You Think?
Though Abraham had no way of knowing it, his actions were a dramatic and powerful
portrayal of God’s actions some two thousand years later. Abraham was called to give his
only son of promise, his beloved son; God gave his only begotten and beloved Son.
Abraham took Isaac to a mountaintop in the land of Moriah, a mountain close to, or
maybe even the same as, the temple mount, or perhaps Calvary. Isaac was innocent of
anything that called for his death; Jesus was absolutely pure and innocent. Isaac willingly
obeyed his father by accepting that he would be sacrificed; Jesus made his sacrifice of his
own will, in obedience to the will of his heavenly Father.
How do these things strengthen your faith?
Conclusion
We live in an age of testing. Millions upon millions of dollars are spent every year on
testing. Such items as the food we eat, the water we drink, and the clothes we wear are all
subjected to countless tests before they are sold to us. Although these tests are expensive
and often time-consuming, we accept them as a part of our complicated lifestyle. When we
visit a physician’s office, we are likely to be tested so that he can make a better diagnosis
of our ailments. Our automobiles are safer than ever because they have been tested both in
the designing and the manufacturing process. We must pass a test to receive a driver’s
license, and if we should be caught driving erratically, we may be tested by an officer for
our sobriety. And the word school is one that for many students becomes synonymous
with tests.
Our faith in God involves testing. Just as our everyday life involves testing, so does
our relationship to God. On rare occasions that test may come in one defining moment, as
did Abraham’s when he was told to sacrifice Isaac. But most of us will never have an
experience like that with all of its intensity and drama. Our tests usually come frequently,
even daily. They arise in the seemingly small, insignificant events of life. They come when
we are exasperated by another person and cut him down with a sarcastic remark. They
arise when we “forget” about the posted speed limits on the highway. They occur when, in
a group that may be critical of Christ or the church, we remain silent rather than speak up
for our Lord. When we fail to live up to our faith in these and a thousand similar
situations, we will rarely be criticized. Often our consciences won’t even bother us. And in
addition, when we pass these tests of faith, we will not receive an instant commendation
from the Lord as did Abraham. Yet these tests are still important.
We need to prepare for tests of our faith. As a teacher I spend a great deal of time
preparing, giving, and grading tests. Normally I give students advance notice of tests and
tell them how to prepare for them. Some students listen, prepare, and usually make good
grades. Others don’t listen, or they prepare inadequately, and they suffer the
consequences. Occasionally I give a “pop quiz” just to make sure that the students stay
alert.
Life is much like this. We often know when and where major tests of faith will come in
our lives, and we can prepare for those times. When we move or take a new job or make
new friends, we should be aware that such situations often put our faith to the test. At
other times, tests come like the dreaded pop quizzes — unannounced and unexpected.
These are usually the most difficult tests because our guard is not up.
Tests can make our faith stronger. Most of us don’t enjoy tests when we have to take
them. But James reminds us to “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials
of many kinds” (James 1:2). Abraham was able to rejoice when he successfully passed his
test, and so can we. God gives us this assurance: “Blessed is the man who perseveres
under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God
has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
What Do You Think?
The lesson writer says we need to prepare for tests of our faith. How do you think one
does that? What do you do to prepare for such tests?
Thought to Remember
“Faith is to believe, on the word of God, what we do not see, and its reward is to see
and enjoy what we believe.”
— Augustine
