Abraham's Test

When tested is your faith in God or the Blessing?

Abraham acted in obedience against what looked like the blessing.

Through the ups and downs Abraham learned to have Faith in God not just the outcomes of the promise

Take away - Look back over you life God has been faithful?

Intro

Keeping big news quite - Good things

Purpose to Samantha

Hebrews 11:17–19 ESV

17 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, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Tested

What is really going on.

Genesis 22:1–14 ESV

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there 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 in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 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.”

Burnt offering

Considered His Life

God rescued Abraham’s wife from the clutches of Pharaoh and Abimelech (Gen 12:10–20; 20:1–18).

When Abraham trusted God and let Lot choose the “best” land for himself, Abraham actually got the better land, and Lot ended up in Sodom, which was destroyed (Genesis 13).

When Abraham attempted to rescue Lot with 318 men against kings who had just won a major victory against many other kings, he succeeded (Gen 14:1–24).

And most striking of all, God had given Abraham and Sarah the power to procreate. Isaac was their miracle child born long after the time of childbearing (Gen 17:14–17; 18:9–15; 21:1–7).

So Abraham didn’t doubt God’s pledge that the promises would be fulfilled through Isaac.

How do we put our faith in God?

1) THINK back over your life

When tested is your faith in God or the blessings?

Conclusion

God Sees - Jesus

2 way street on sacrifice for relationship.

God did give his Son - He gave his only for you!