Abraham
– Holding Fast
To The Will Of God
·
It's
been a long road and a lot of bumps along the way, but Abraham has been growing
in his faith. Now, that faith is put to the test. And Abraham didn't know it
was coming.
·
Of
all of God's recorded words and actions in the Bible, what He asks of Abraham
in Gen. 22 seems to be the most unfair. God had promised Abraham an heir from
the beginning. Isaac was a long time coming, and he was a miracle birth. Now,
God asks Abraham to kill his own son.
·
Some
time has passed (v. 1). Life may have seemed routine and comfortable. Hagar and
Ishmael were not around. From out of the blue, God tells Abraham to take Isaac
to Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. And when does Abraham leave? The next day (v. 3). Contrast that
with the way Abram tarried in Haran when first called to Canaan.
·
Why
did Abraham go? Read Heb. 11:17-19 for one of the great statements of faith in
the Bible
·
The
journey took three days. Never mind starting the journey, it must have taken a
lot of faith to keep going, knowing what was waiting at the end.
·
Isaac
had been taught the ceremony of sacrifice (v. 7), and wondered where the lamb
was. Abraham replied God would provide it.
·
God
intervenes, and the ram is sacrificed instead. It is the first mention of one
life being sacrificed instead of another.
·
Note
the parallels between the almost sacrifice of Isaac, and the death of Christ on
the cross
Ø
God
told them to go to Mt. Moriah, the very summit where the temple would be built
Ø
The
journey took 3 days. Christ was in the grave three days.
Ø
Isaac's
conception and birth was a miracle, as was Christ's.
Ø
Christ
went to Gethsemane with 3 friends. Isaac traveled with 3 people.
Ø
Isaac
carried the wood for the sacrifice, just as Christ carried the cross.
Ø
Abraham
told Isaac God would provide the lamb, and God did in the person of Christ.
Ø
Isaac
was laid on the wood, as Christ was put on the cross.
·
Jehovah-jireh,
the Lord will provide. Abraham believed this even though he didn't see the end.
#1) God does not tempt His
children; rather, He tests us.
#2) When God tests His children,
He prepares us for the trial.
#3) God's tests may come when we
least expect them.
#4) God's tests are often
designed to help us grow and mature in our most vulnerable areas.
#5) God's tests often appear
incongruous and illogical.
For
next week, read Genesis 23, 25:1-11
