June 1 The Test
The Command to Sacrifice Isaac Story is dripping with meaning
Genesis 22 After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." 6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
9When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill (Slaughter) his son.
What kind of God is Abraham dealing with here?
What kind of man is God dealing with?
Abraham’s experience in his culture - offer a sacrifice meant death would result - yet he said we will return
faith and works are illustrated here.
11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 13And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; (He will see - Jehovah Jireh) as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
15The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
God tests Abraham - give up your son - final part of the covenant relationship.
The Blood Covenant preceeded Abraham - remember the parts?
But then God substitutes His only son
Sandwich - Apple - Paint Job (see pg. 92 of Mystery of Christ by Capon)
Work means we design it in our mind, make plans to accomplish it and then execute those plans
Design - I am going to have a sandwich -Plans - ham and cheese - a little mustard, Execute - Go to the Frig.
But what about an apple? I can’t make an apple, but I can plant the tree. My work assists but doesn’t produce.
Acts of faith produce apples - though there is some work on my part
But suppose I am blind and in the hospital recovering from a serious illness. It is late fall and my house needs painting, but I can’t even be there to hire someone or supervise it. (pick a painter)
A friend stops by and tells me that he has painted my house. - no work on my part whatsoever
No design - it was his design, no execution - he did it all before I even knew what he was up to. The only thing I have to offer the whole deal is to believe or disbelieve. That I will do based on what I know of my friend
Work requires total competence on my part - faith requires competence on the others’ part
Did my faith cause the house to be painted - no it was painted before I knew about it
Did my faith cause the design or plan or execution? No never occurred to me to trust you until you said it.
Was the paint job a reward for my faith? No it proceeded my faith, in fact it exists even if I choose not to believe it.
My faith has nothing whatsoever to do but to enjoy your gift. My work is to believe!
Make your choice - work depends on my ability, competence, faithfulness, knowledge, plans and designs
Faith depends on someone else’s’ ability, competence, faithfulness, knowledge, plans and designs.
The most amazing thing about faith is that it always sounds absurd. Offer up your son - complete the covenant. Trust in the dead Messiah - abused and scarred.
Who is testing whom? Faith and works married. God belongs to Abe now - the God of Abraham
And Abraham belongs to God. "By the way - I said offer - not kill."
Look at the bread - break it up tear it up - remember how one is torn to pieces and then made one again.
