Abraham Father Of Faith –9

Abraham & Isaac

The Site Of The Sacrifice

This large rock, is supposed to be the pace where Abraham sacrificed Isaac. Jews call it the “Foundation Stone” – upon which God is supposed to have made the world. It is now inside the Dome of the Rock mosque in Jerusalem and is supposed to be the spot from which Mohammed ascended to Heaven It is also the site of the old Jewish Temple

Caution Required!

This story does NOT justify child abuse or child-sacrifice but rather eventually shows that God abhors it.

This story does not justify asking extreme sacrifices from spiritual followers (“putting your Isaac on the altar”)

If we think that God is asking us to do something unusual or extreme we should: a) WAIT b) check the Scriptures and c) seek advice and godly counsel.

Unquestioning Obedience

Genesis 22:1-3 MKJV And it happened after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Behold me. (2) And He said, Take now your son, your only one, Isaac, whom you love. And go into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will name to you. (3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went to the place of which God had told him.

Faith And Perplexity

Abraham received a clear instruction from God to do something very, very strange.

He thought about this and ended up believing that God would raise Isaac from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Abraham kept believing in the goodness and power and promises of God in a time of great perplexity

Despite his perplexity Abraham obeyed God

Splitting The Wood

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he split the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up and went to the place of which God had told him.

Why carry the wood? Thorough preparation for tough obedience A lifestyle of living life without excuses

Where Is The Lamb?

Genesis 22:4-8 MKJV Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. (5) And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the ass. And I and the boy will go on to this way and worship, and come again to you. (6) And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a knife. And they both went together. (7) And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (8) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. So they both went together.

A Difficult Journey

I and the boy..will worship..and come again to you!

Abraham believed that he would come back with Isaac

Abraham had kept God’s instructions to himself.

Abraham’s word to Isaac later became prophetic – sometimes prophetic words are unintentional.

Isaac carrying the wood is like Jesus carrying His cross

God Stops The Sacrifice

Genesis 22:9-13 MKJV And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. And he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on the wood. (10) And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. (11) And the Angel of Jehovah called to him from the heavens and said, Abraham! Abraham! And he said, Here am I. (12) And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad, nor do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me. (13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked. And, behold, a ram behind him was entangled in a thicket by its horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

I Know That You Fear God!

The purpose was to test loyalty to God of someone who would be a great patriarch (similar to the testing of Peter)

Leaders are often tested by God before service (e.g. the temptation of Jesus)

This is NOT saying that we have to give up everything that is precious to us (after all Isaac was restored to Abraham)

It does tell us that God must come first The “ram” often called the “Ram of

Pride” is sacrificed instead. Ram symbolizes strength, ability (in

Hebrew)

Spiritual Significance

Abraham’s sacrifice was a “type’ of the death of Christ and Isaac’s survival a prefigurement of the resurrection

Abraham’s obedience “hallowed” that place for all time

Faith creates the channels along which history then proceeds

Prophetic actions and words can “create history” e.g. Moses and the plagues, Baalam’s prophecy etc (Numbers 22 & 23)

The Lord Will Provide

Genesis 22:14 MKJV And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Will See; so that it is said until this day, In the mount of Jehovah it will be seen.

Genesis 22:14 HCSB And Abraham named that place The LORD Will Provide, so today it is said: "It will be provided on the LORD's mountain."

God’s Command Is God’s Provision

When you are “on the Lord’s mountain” that is “in the right place” spiritually then God provides!

Matthew 6:33 MKJV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

2 Corinthians 9:8-9 MKJV (8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency, you may abound to every good work; (9) As it is written, "He scattered; he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever."

The Gates Of Their Enemies

Genesis 22:15-19 MKJV And the Angel of Jehovah called to Abraham out of the heavens the second time, (16) and said, I have sworn by Myself, says Jehovah; because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only one; (17) that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies. (18) And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. (19) Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.

Multiplied Blessings

(17) that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore.

Hebrew construction for ‘superabundantly bless and superabundantly multiply”

And your Seed shall possess the gate of His enemies. – victory in spiritual warfare - the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church” (Matthew 16:18)

Obedience Releases Blessing

And in your Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.

God gave Abraham authority – the third and greatest Creation blessing - “have dominion over” after his obedience

Up until this point Abraham had blessings of fruitfulness and multiplication (v.17)

Now power and dominion were released through high-level obedience

God made the blessing certain by swearing an oath – (see Hebrews 6:13-15)