Sunday Sermons
Genesis 22
22:1 “Now it came about after these things”
When Abraham was 75 years old, God had called him to leave the city of Haran (Genesis 12:4). Almost 25 years later, when Abraham was 99, it was revealed to him that Sarah his wife would have a son named Isaac (17:1,19). Chapter 21 of Genesis records the birth and young life of Isaac. During this same period of time, Hagar and Ishmael are sent away with God’s approval (21:12). The last verse of chapter 21 reads, “And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days” (21:34). We know that the time period between chapter 21 and 23 covers 38 years. Sarah is 90-91 when Isaac is born(17:17), and she dies at the age of 127 (23:1-2). We are not given the precise time during those 37 years when the events of chapter 22 transpire. While Isaac is called a “lad” (22:5,12), a term which is flexible concerning age, he may have been in his teens or older. Morris notes, “Evidently the intervening years had been happy ones. Isaac was growing and in every way was a joy to Abraham and Sarah. He had been worth waiting for…Then, suddenly, the blow fell!”
(The Genesis Record, Henry M. Morris, p. 373).
22:1 “That God tested Abraham”
Abraham had already been tested many times and had proven his faithfulness. He had responded to God’s call in Ur (Acts 7:2-4) and Haran. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out---By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise” (Hebrews 11:8-9). He had fully believed God’s promise that his descendants would be like the stars in the heavens, while at the same time being childless (Genesis 15:6 “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness”). After all these tests and after so many years of waiting for a child, from a human point of view it would seem that God would allow him to retire. Abraham is tested after he had already demonstrated his faith on many other occasions. The greatest test that Abraham faced, was not in his youth, it was in his old age. While there are many tests in our youth, the greatest test or trial that we will ever face might be still awaiting us.
Genesis 22:2 “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love…and offer him there as a burnt offering”
Each word from God was extremely painful. Kidner notes, “Abraham’s trust was to be weighed in the balance against common sense, human affection, and lifelong ambition; in act against everything earthly” (Genesis, Derek Kidner, IVP, p. 143). God had called upon him to sacrifice the earthly thing that gave him the most joy. “It is one thing to claim to trust God’s word when waiting for something; it is quite another to trust and obey His word after it is received…Would he cling to the boy now that he had him, or would he still obey and return him to the Lord? In other words how far would Abraham go in obedience?” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary, p. 64). There are times in our lives when obedience to the will of God in a specific situation might seem like the end of any hope for earthly happiness. God was asking Abraham to do something that, from a human perspective, would take all the meaning and joy out of his life. “And what about Sarah? Why, this will literally bring her down to the grave with grief!” (Morris p. 373). But what God commanded Abraham---in principle, is exactly what God expects of us, that we are prepared to sacrifice all for Him (Luke 14:26).
22:2 “As a burnt offering”
Wasn’t this something that only the heathens did? Abraham could have reasoned, “True, the false gods of the surrounding nations are sometimes worshipped by the sacrifice of sons and daughters, but surely this type of thing is not pleasing to You.” Rather, the Hebrew writer says, “He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead” (11:19). Note that Abraham did not argue with God, neither did he stumble over what might seem to be a moral dilemma, rather faith finds an answer which leaves the integrity of God and His Word in tact (Romans 3:4 “let God be found true, though every man be found a liar”).Abraham’s conviction was that since God had given Isaac to him, and had hinged all the promises for the future on Isaac living(Hebrews 11:18), God was able to raise Isaac from the dead if necessary. We need to have the same attitude. We know that God will take care of us (Matthew 6:25-34). Faith says that God knows everything and He knows what He is doing.
22:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning”
His obedience was prompt. The land of Moriah, which seems to be located in the vicinity of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 3:1), was a journey of three days (Genesis 22:4). God did not give Abraham a quick test, like something that could be done that very day. Instead Abraham was given three days to think about what was going to happen. Time can have a way of eating away at our conviction, and it can wear down our resolve. We may start trying to wiggle out of the hardship, or searching for a way of rationalizing disobedience. “Abraham could not just fulfill God’s command by a quick, spur of the moment decision. He had to sweat it out for at least three days…The very nature of the test was that he would be obedient to God’s demand in every detail after due consideration and considerable effort” (Bible Students Commentary, G.Ch. Aalders p. 46). The distance of this journey was probably about 50 miles.
22:5 “We will worship and return to you”
Note the confidence that everything will work out. Abraham is not lying to these servants, rather he really believed somehow not only he would return but Isaac would also return. Here is faith, even when it looks like obedience to God hinders the fulfillment of what God wants, faith does not hesitate. To many people placing yourself second in serving others seems to be a hindrance in finding personal happiness (Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Peter 3:10). Others cannot seem to harmonize or understand how contentment (Philippians 4:11-12) can be obtained by someone who is no longer striving to put self in the first place(Matthew 16:24-25). Finally, some feel that God’s stress on doctrinal soundness (2 Timothy 4:2-4), is a great hindrance to uniting all professed Christians in one universal body (John 17:20-21).
22:7 “My father!……but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
This question must have cut through the heart of Abraham, yet notice how Abraham reacts, “God will provide for Himself the lamb”. Do we believe “God will provide?” Romans 8:28 “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God”. Kidner notes, “It might (‘God will provide’) almost be called his lifelong motto” (p. 144). Faith will not say, “God failed me, God let me down, God didn’t come through for me”. Faith will say, “God will provide” (1 Corinthians 10:13; Hebrews 13:6).
22:9 “And bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood”
Isaac now realizes that he is the sacrifice, yet Isaac doesn’t resist, struggle, or argue. He silently submits. We must remember, at this time Isaac may have been stronger or more agile than his father and could have easily escaped. Be impressed with not only the trust Abraham had in God but the trust Isaac had in his father! “Never was such a loving father or obedient son put to such a test as this” (Morris p. 381). Think of the looks that they gave each other. But all the family affections in the world, all the emotions capable within the human being could not stop this man from obeying God. Be impressed “a man” did this, a man just like you or I, and what made all the difference in the world was his faith in God. Abraham was not smarter or genetically superior and neither was true religion drilled into him from an early age. This is the faith which all of us are capable! Faith doesn’t trust feelings, emotions, intuition, or even common sense, human wisdom, or tradition, rather faith trusts God!
22:10-11 “Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him…”
God waited until the last possible moment! God may allow us to be brought right up to the brink of extreme hardship or trial. In Abraham we see the true worshipper holding nothing back from God. Faith does not blink. Jesus instructs us to count the cost before we decide to serve Him (Luke 14:28ff). But once we have decided to follow, all such calculating is to end. Faith views not only whatever it has, but also itself as expendable. When we become a Christian, we in fact surrender everything we have to God. Hence, sacrifices should not shock or surprise us, because we have already mentally accepted that it is no longer that “I” am in control, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Faith does not give God the leftovers in time, talents, or resources. God wants the gospel spread in this community (Mark 16:15), and faith is not staggered at the challenge, rather faith says, “Ok, what is it going to take to accomplish God’s desire?” Faith allows God to end the trial. 22:12 “For now I know that you fear God” God can know all things. But at the same time, man has a free will. God does not interfere with our ability to choose. Trials are necessary to reveal the true quality of our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Observations
In citing this incident, James writes, “You see that faith was working with his works” (2:22). Along with Hebrews 11:17-19, this reveals the motivation in Abraham’s heart as he journeyed to Mount Moriah and then proceeded to offer up his only son. Faith was the motivation. There are times in the past that I have not enjoyed reading Genesis 22 because from a mere human perspective this trial seems so unfair. Some would call it cruel to give an old man a son only to expect him to offer him as a sacrifice. Yet what impresses me is that Abraham did not become bitter or angry. He wasn’t angry with God for requiring this and even after the test was over he did not resent the fact that God had placed upon him such a trial. We need to tell our children that if something bad happens to us, or if we are taken from this earth sooner than we expected, then we were ready and we do not want them to get mad at God for allowing such to happen. Remember, God never gives someone a test, and neither does He allow men to be tempted beyond their ability (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God always had a good reason for why He does things. This test needed to happen, not merely for Abraham, but for us as well. The reason I say this is because if we think that God was hard upon Abraham, let us remember that God was a lot harder upon Himself. In the vicinity of Mount Moriah some 2000 years later, the same God who commanded Abraham to offer up his only son, would offer His own Son, not only for the sins of Abraham, but for the sins of the whole world. Yet this time there would not be a ram caught in the thicket, neither would the angels stop this sacrifice. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) May I suggest to you that Genesis 22 only makes sense in light of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and in like manner, every trial that we encounter only makes sense in light of the cross as well. If we are tempted to become angry with God because of what was allowed to happen to us at some point in time, we need to remember that God allowed His own Son to die for our sins, yet does not hold an angry grudge against us.
