Hello I Love You Let Me Tell You My Name
Jehovah Jireh – Gen. 22:1-19
Intro: I grew up playing sports, but my favorite sport was baseball. Sadly, I grew up in Atlanta where the Braves were perennial cellar-dwellers. They were so bad we used to attend games w/ paper bags over our heads for fear someone might see us. Yet despite how awful the Braves were, one of my greatest sporting experiences came during a Braves/Expos game. The Braves were down 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th when Biff Pocoroba came to the plate w/ the bases loaded and 2 outs. I watched as the count ran full. Bases loaded, 2 outs, bottom of the 9th, full count – The pitcher grooved one and Biff jacked it! A game winning, walk-off, grand slam!
Trans: We’ve all had those “bottom of the 9th” experiences in life where we’ve come to the point that the pressure is on us to deliver. In Gen. 22, we find God in this position – and God comes through revealing as Jehovah Jireh – the God who provides.
Trans: Other than the cross, there may not be another story in the Bible w/ this sense of drama – certainly not in Abe’s life. All of the previous tests God put Abe through pale in comparison to this one b/c Abe had longed for, hope for, and prayed for a son – this one was personal – God wanted Abe’s son, his only son. (Read Gen. 22)
Recap: It’s a simple story. After 24 years of fatherless father’s days, God blessed Abe w/ a son – who was to be the cornerstone of God’s promise to make Abe a great nation. But as Isaac reaches his teen years, God asks Abe to he offer Isaac as a sacrifice.
Insert: If you read this story casually, you might misinterpret the intent. God’s not saying He’s for human sacrifice, God is opposed to such behavior – this was a pagan activity. Yet God is about making sure we have nothing on the throne of our lives in place of Him. See God longs to bless us according to His will for our lives. He enjoys giving us “Isaacs”. Yet if we love “Isaac” more than Him, then our “Isaacs” will have to be sacrificed. God will not allow another god before Him in our lives.
I The REQUEST (Sacrifice) v. 1-2
Recap: God offers a test to confirm Abe’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. By this time Isaac is 15 and Abe has a teenager in the home. God asks Abe to…
Note: Take your son, your only son, Isaac, the one you love and kill him.
Insert: For those w/ teenagers at home don’t misconstrue this text as a means of solving your problems at home. God doesn’t want you to offer your children as a sacrifice.
Insert: God did this to test Abe. The word test means “to qualify through a thorough examination.” God gives tests to strengthen and approve us – to test us to see if our faith is genuine and to humble us and bring us under His care.
Verse: Consider it pure joy whenever you encounter trials and testing, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance so that it may have its perfect result that you might not be lacking in anyway. James 1:3-4
Trans: In Duet. 8, the Bible says God sent the Israelites into the wilderness to humble them and to test what was in their hearts and to see if they would obey God’s commands.
Note: God gives test bring out our best – Tests are intended to improve us and conform us.
Trans: So what does God usually tend to target when He deems it necessary to test us?
A The TARGET?
Note: W/ Abe, God takes the (1) thing most dear to him (Isaac) and puts it under the knife.
Trans: God’s at work conforming us into His image and drawing us to dependence upon Him. By nature we strive for independence, but He requires our surrender. To attain this goal, God goes after those items that vie for supremacy in our hearts. God will not share His throne w/ anyone or anything – He targets all competitors.
B The CONDITIONS
Trans: What does He require? God requires that we have an open-handed faith.
Note: God outlines (3) conditions of activity for Abe: Take – Go – Sacrifice
• Take your one and only son who you love w/ all of your heart.
• Go to the land of Moriah
• Sacrifice him on an alter to me
Trans: Abe saw this before when God asked him to leave Ur for an unknown land – he left family, security, and comfort for the unknown. This time the cost would be higher.
Point: There’s always a cost in following God. If it cost God His son, then there will be a cost to us too – surrender. I’m not suggesting our works gain God’s attention, but we will have to give up our will for His will. It requires total commitment.
Joke: It reminds me of the story of the chicken and the pig who got together to plan a birthday for their farmer. The chicken suggested a hearty breakfast of eggs and bacon, but the pig objected. He said that might sound good to you b/c it only requires an offering from you, but it will require a complete sacrifice on my part.
Note: God offered Abe an opportunity to show Him just how much he loved Him. He gives no explanation just an expectation. And He does the same to us.
II The RESPONSE (Obedience) v. 3
Trans: Unlike in the past, Abe doesn’t argue or question God. He doesn’t consult w/ anyone – he immediately obeys. How do you respond to difficulties and challenges – complain, consult, or comply?
A Obedience requires CAPITULATION
Note: Abe complied - Abe got up, saddled his donkey, and hit the road. He put feet to faith. He didn’t hesitate, procrastinate, consternate, or bellyache. He got moving.
Point: Abe understood that delayed obedience always turns into disobedience. If you know what God wants you to do, then to put it off is to disobey.
Idea: A lady in our church who has been out due personal reasons asked me if she should catch up the tithe she missed. I asked, what do you think? She shared that when she was tithing she was being blessed, and since she had stopped her blessing had decreased. But her friends told her not to catch up but to start new. I told her to do what she thought God would bless. It was obvious she knew in her heart she was to go back and catch up, but the voices around her were telling her differently.
Trans: It doesn’t matter if it is your tithe, your relationships, whatever… God expect complete and immediate obedience every time.
Note: Delayed obedience is immediate disobedience. Partial obedience is complete disobedience. Both rob us of the joy of God’s provision and blessings.
Insert: Do you know what the problem is? We get our “buts” in the wrong place. Yeah, you heard me (repeat). We say to God, “God I would be willing to honor you BUT, my circumstances won’t allow it.” That’s the wrong way of looking at life. We should be saying, “I realize what my circumstances are, BUT my God will provide.”
B Obedience requires PREPARATION
Trans: While Abe was inspired to obey immediately, I want you to notice his preparation.
• He got up early and saddled his donkey
• Took (2) servants
• Got Isaac ready
• Cut wood for the offering
Note: By being prepared Abe eliminated his excuses. He couldn’t get to the mountain and offer God a lame excuse why he couldn’t offer a sacrifice – God, I forgot the wood.
Insert: Being the pastor, I’ve heard some of the most ridiculous excuses why people have missed church or why people have decided to go somewhere else to church – which by the way is usually bedside Baptist w/ Dr. Sheets preaching about pillow talk.
Truth: Most people aren’t offering excuses to justify their actions before men, or to save hurting someone’s feelings – they offer excuses to convince themselves that their disobedience towards God and their carnal behavior towards man is all right – NOT!
Insert: It amazes me to what lengths we will go to prepare for everything except worshipping God. We prepare for parties, business proposals, anniversaries, and football games, but we approach God week after week ill prepared to worship Him.
III The RESOLVE (Worship) v. 4-5
Recap: Abe sets out for the journey w/ his son and two servants. (3) days into the journey he leaves the servants behind and heads into the mountains w/ only Isaac. But notice his resolve despite his circumstance
A ISOLATION
Note: God even though God hasn’t spoken in 3 days. Talk about being on an island. God tells Abe to kill his son and then He clams up! Has that ever happened to you?
Note: There have been times in my life when God has told me to do something and I didn’t hear from Him again until the task was fulfilled or until I learned my lesson.
Insert: New members often ask me how long I am planning on pastoring WHFBC. I tell them until God tells me otherwise. He called me hear 4 ½ years ago and He hasn’t told me to go anywhere else since. Certainly God has spoken to me as your pastor, but He has only told me what to do lead you – not leave you.
Point: I believe we can learn an important lesson here – Once God has spoken to you, keep going the direction He tells you until He tells you otherwise.
B SEPARATION
Note: I believe there is great significance found in Abe leaving his servants behind – they likely would have done everything in their power to prevent him from obeying God.
Note: It is amazing how quickly we can find someone who can talk us out of obeying God. Job has three friends and a wife ready to escort away from trusting God. We have at least that many ready to help us out of His presence. I’m here today to help you in.
Point: Always keep moving in the direction God calls you until He tells you otherwise and don’t allow anyone or anything to distract you.
IV The RELIANCE (Challenge) v. 6-8
Recap: As Abe and Isaac went to the mountain to worship God, Isaac asks Abe about the sacrifice – Abe replies, God will provide.
Note: The reality of the moment hits as the Isaac asks Abe about the sacrifice. Now personally I don’t think Abe was in some incredible panic – I think he had peace. He wasn’t befuddled but befriended – He truly believed that God would provide.
Word: Provide (ra’ah – Jireh) to see beforehand – God sees before and makes a provision.
Point: Abe choose to believe God promises over his current circumstances.
Insert: This isn’t rocket science – God promised Abe years earlier that He was going to give him a son (Isaac) from whom He was going to make a great nation. Thus, while Abe didn’t know the details, He believed God was going to be faithful to His promises b/c God is always true to His nature, and God had never failed him before.
Verse: By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him – and this after he had already been told, "Your descendants shall come from Isaac." Abraham figured that if God wanted to, he could raise the dead. In a sense, that’s what happened when he received Isaac back, alive from off the altar. Hb. 11:17
Note: Faith believes that nothing is impossible w/ God. And it’s always willing to trust God w/ that which you value the most in life.
V The RECKONING (Attempt) v. 9-10
Recap: Abe gets to the top and proceeds w/ his business. The moment of truth has arrived – Abe builds the altar, binds His son, lays Isaac on the altar, and rears back the knife.
Point: God often has to take us to the brink to confirm our faith - but His timing is perfect.
Insert: We must remember that our circumstances never test the credibility or the faithfulness of God, but rather they serve solely to test our understanding of the character and purpose of God in our life.
VI The RELIEF (Provision) v. 11-14
Quote: Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurs to God? He knows all, sees all, is aware of all, and cares for all. God longs to meet us at the point of our need.
Recap: The angel of the Lord shows up just in time to stop Abe and God provides a perfect ram in the thicket as a substitute sacrifice.
Insert: Now don’t miss the obvious. Not only was God testing Abe’s faith, but He was showing us a picture of what He would later do for you and me – He offered His one and only Son as a perfect propitiation for our sin – only no one will step in when the nails are driven into His hands and feet and a spear was thrust in His side.
Note: God demonstrated His love for Abe by providing a worthy sacrifice to spare His Son just as He provide a spotless lamb to rescue you and me for eternal damnation.
Verse: God demonstrated His love for me and you, while we were sinner Christ died for us.
Point: God knows in advance exactly what we need and He has already made a perfect provision to address the situation. The question is… will we trust Him?
VII The REWARD (Blessing) v. 15-19
Trans: If we do trust Him, and we are in our situation b/c of God’s leading and not b/c of our disobedience, then God can bless us according to His riches in glory.
Recap: B/c Abe didn’t w/hold his son, God blessed him and fulfilled his covenant w/ him.
Point: Never forget though, God’s greatest blessing is that He wants more that something religious w/ you, He wants something personal – He wants a relationship.
Concl: Has God brought you to the plate in the bottom of the 9th w/ the game on the line to see if you will trust Him to provide – to be Jehovah Jireh in and through your life?
By faith – take a swing – give God a chance to show you who He really is – the God who wants to meet you at the point of your deepest need in order to provide for you.
