God Expected Abraham to Obey

Intro:

Today we are continuing in our series “One True God”.

Have your parents ever asked you to do something before and they expected you to obey them? That should be the case with everything our parents tell us, right? They expect us to obey what they have asked us to do.

Abraham was faced with a very difficult decision: to obey God, or to disobey Him.

Think about 5 people in your life right now that you love a lot. Got them in your mind? Now imagine having to give one of those people up. Wouldn’t that feel awful? Tragic? That is exactly what Abraham fel.

Story:

Our story starts off with God giving Abraham instructions on a sacrifice he was to give.

Genesis 22:1–3 CSB

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. 2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.

Later on, they finally arrive at the place where God commanded them to go.

Genesis 22:4–7 CSB

4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together. 7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

I can’t imagine the way Abraham felt in this moment. Isaac asking him where the offering was, and Abraham knowing it would be himself.

Genesis 22:8 CSB

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.

Still, no matter how Abraham felt, what did he do? He obeyed God. Look at what happens next:

Genesis 22:9–13 CSB

9 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” He replied, “Here I am.” 12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

The angel of the LORD stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac! Now, imagine the relief both Abraham and Isaac felt.

Why do you think God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son, one that was promised to him for many years?

God was testing Abraham to see whether he loved his son over obeying God. God was seeing if Abraham loved the gift more than the giver of the gift.

Knowing the story, we see that Abraham feared and respected God and obeyed His commands, even if they would be painful to him and difficult to understand.

Does God want you and me to obey His commands? Absolutely! He expects us to. Where can we find His commands? In His Word! That’s why we gather each week and open up God’s Word together, so we can learn about what Jesus has done for us and what Jesus commands His followers to do.

Christ Connection:

Do you think there’s any similarities between today’s story with Abraham and Isaac, and Jesus?

What other Father gave up His one and only son? That’s right, God the Father willingly gave up His one and only Son, Jesus. Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus was obedient to what God commanded Him to do, even when it was difficult.

Luke 22:42 CSB

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Jesus knew the pain and suffering He was going to endure, and even asked God if there was a way to have it taken away from Him… but He said “not my will, but yours be done” to His Father.

Because of Christ’s obedience, you and I can be forgiven of our sins and have a relationship with God. Obedience is important because it shows that we love God.

Jesus said,

John 14:15 CSB

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands.

So, if we follow Jesus, we must keep His commands. When we do:

We show others that we love Jesus (because we obey His commands)

We show others what Jesus did (obeyed the Father)

Bottom Line:

God expects us to obey His commands.