Controlling Themes
- God tests and refines our faith through trials of various kinds (James 1:2-3)
- Faith is knowing that God will provide for us and protect us even when we cannot see how that could be possible in the present circumstances.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Heb 11:1-2
- We can have faith in God because He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides.
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”Being a child of God and an heir to His promise requires self-sacrifice and self-denial.
Genesis 22:14
Read Genesis 22:1-14
The Context
- Laughter had come into Abraham and Sarah’s home – Issac was with them and they recognized that God’s promises would be fulfilled through him.
- Abraham continues to have ups and downs in his faith journey. He recently repeated his lie to Pharaoh when he had Sarah tell Abimelech that she was his sister. (A technical half-truth – she was his half-sister, but she was his wife. A fact he wished to conceal).
- God had removed another stumbling block for Abraham’s faith. He had Abraham cast Hagar and Ishmael out. Ishmael was no longer a fallback for the fulfillment of God’s promise. Issac was Abraham’s only son.
- Several more years have passed since Issac’s birth. He was likely in his late teens to early twenties at this time.
How is verse one similar to the first chapter of Job, and how does it help us read this story and learn from it?
- In both stories, the reader is told what is going on behind the scenes. (God is testing Abraham)
- In understanding that this is a test to prove and refine Abraham’s faith we also understand that this is how God works in our lives.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3
Note: Abraham’s life had been a series of tests or trials designed to show him, even through his failures, that God can be trusted and that we are best off when we steadfastly follow and obey Him.
What do you see in verse two that demonstrates that God empathizes with us in our trials?
- He drew attention to the magnitude of His command by acknowledging two things.
- Issac was Abraham’s only son
- Abraham loved Issac
Note: God is not unconcerned by our feelings and affections. He does not call upon us to follow Him through difficult experiences without any regard to the emotional or physical pain that we will experience. But he does ask us to trust Him. He does ask us to go through the trial with the assurance that He will provide.
In using the words “only son, whom you love” God is foreshadowing His own sacrifice.
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
Mattew 3:17
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
Matthew 12:18
How do Abraham’s actions and words in verses 3-10 demonstrate the growth of Abraham’s faith?
- His obedient response was immediate and without question. (vs. 3, 9-10)
- His confidence in God to save Issac was unshakeable (vs. 5)
Note: We might be surprised by Abraham’s comment to the others with him. When he said ”I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” Heb 11:17-19 gives us divine insight into the mind of Abraham at this moment.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Hebrews 11:17-19
Abraham envisioned the doctrine of the resurrection when as yet there had been nothing in history to suggest it.
R. Kent Hughes
- His confidence in God to provide was unshakeable (vs. 7-8)
Note: In a quiet moment between Father and Son, Abraham demonstrated to his son what faith looked like. I don’t think it is the first time that Issac witnessed this faith, this assurance of things hoped for, this conviction of things not seen. I think it is Abraham’s repeated demonstration of faith that encouraged Issac to submit to being bound and placed on that altar. His faith in God seems to already be well established not to mention his faith in his father.
Do you see any other foreshadows of Christ in these verses?
- vs. 4 – a reference to three days. Abraham and Issac journeyed for three days before the place where God would provide and Issac would be figuratively raised from the dead.
- vs. 6 – As Jesus carried his cross, Issac carried his in the form of the firewood bundled on his back to later be used for the sacrifice of his life.
- vs. 8 – Eventually God did provide the lamb of sacrifice in the form of His only son, Jesus.
- vs. 9-10 – The son willingly accepts the will of the father and the father sacrifices the son.
Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Luke 22:42
Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above….”
John 19:11
In what ways are verses 11 – 14 instructive and encouraging for our walk of faith?
- They remind us that God sees us and is interested in our lives. (Read Matthew 6:25-34)
- In a real sense, we ought to fear God and withhold nothing from Him. (vs 12)
- Faith is demonstrated through our work of obedience to God.
- God can and will provide for our every need.
- He is powerful enough to do so, therefore we fear Him.
- He is willing to do so, therefore we put our faith in Him.
