The Lord Will Provide

Introduction

There are three kinds of people in this world – Those who pass, who fail, and who cheat.

STORY: ACCOUNTING FINAL

But sometimes the opposite happens

STORY: Sam was mad that Charles Pryor got 100’s in Physics on Happy Jack’s tests, so he ratted him out.

Ransom note - 4th period gets easy, 5th and 6th gets hard until someone rats

Ransom note - The subject of the last letter was Charles Pryor

40 years later, he found out he has a BS in Civil Engineering, an M.S. in Engineering Science and Mechanics and a PhD in Structural Engineering from Virginia Tech, as well as an Executive MBA from Northeastern University.

OPENING:

This is the sermon I’ve been excited to preach

I am not a perfect pastor, but if I’ve learned one lesson well it’s this:

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!

YouVersion: The Lord Will Provide

We’re in Genesis 22:1-19

This is one of the most famous stories in the Bible

Probably because it reveals very strong faith, and because it illustrates the cross

For us, we learn what it means to truly have faith

Genesis 22:1 (ESV)

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

First, it says he was tested

This test wasn’t meant to build Abraham’s faith

It was meant to reveal it to him and to others… like us!

God wants to teach us a lesson through Abraham

In fact, the writer wants us to experience this test through the eyes of Abraham

As we read, try to imagine that you are Abraham

The first lesson we learn is Abraham says “Here I am”

Literally, “What does my Lord say to His servant.”

If only the church said “Here I am” every time God called us to something!

But we don’t because we’re afraid to ask “what can I do, God?”

We need to pray that our willingness to surrender improves

Genesis 22:2 (ESV)

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.”

Poor Abraham, I highly doubt this is what he expected God to say!!

Sometimes we fear being open to God because of what He might say

ILLUSTRATION: Don’t pray for patience…

There’s no warning, no explanation… it seems to come out of nowhere.

God tells him to sacrifice his only son – that’s a big sacrifice!

For most of us the conversation would be:

“What says my Lord to His servant?”

“Offer your son as a burnt offering.”

“Ok, hey now… Come on Lord!”

SIDE NOTE: Interesting… doesn’t Abraham have 2 sons? God is insistent because of His promise.

He is supposed to kill his son with a knife, and then burn his dead body or body parts

TESTING YOUR FAITH

1) Tests are usually not fun!

ILLUSTRATION: Guitar kids hate tests and they don’t even matter

What would be running through your mind if you were Abraham?

Didn’t you promise me an heir? A father of nations?

Why would God ask for something like this?

First Ishmael, and now Isaac too?

Am I going to have another son?

Did I misunderstand what He said? Am I crazy?

What will happen if I don’t go through with this?

Let’s look at what Abraham does…

Genesis 22:3 (ESV)

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.

Notice the detail… God wants us to be pulled into the story to really understand the implications

Amazingly, Abraham doesn’t even wait for a second. No stalling, no counsel, just obedience.

He wakes up early. Then again, maybe he didn’t sleep that night at all…

ILLUSTRATION: Flight test, just wanted to get it over with!

Then he chops the wood himself, saddles his donkey himself, even though he’s old with servants

Abraham seems to understand this is specifically for him.

Genesis 22:4–5 (ESV)

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.”

This is where we see the true faith of Abraham

He says “…we will come back to you.” He fully trusts God.

He knows that he will either be saved or resurrected.

Remember God’s promise:

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.

The writer quotes Genesis 21:12 to prove that Abraham expected a resurrection

That means he fully intends to go through with the sacrifice

2) God’s tests reveal your faith in Him

ILLUSTRATION: The point of “maxing out” while weightlifting

Genesis 22:6–7 (ESV)

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?”

And he said, “Here I am, my son.”

Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Smart kid…

Isaac carries the wood, sees his dad with a torch and a knife, but “hey, where’s the lamb?”

This is the ultimate “where do babies come from” moment

Abraham has a fantastic answer:

Genesis 22:8–10 (ESV)

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.

Notice that Isaac never runs away.

His dad is old, surely Isaac could flee, but he’s learned obedience.

Remember Abraham’s answer: My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.

Perhaps we can see a little bit of Isaac’s faith here too

STRETCH - And Abraham goes as far as he possibly can – the knife is in his hand!

Do you realize what the knife says about the faith of Abraham?

Charles Spurgeon: "That knife was cutting into his own heart all the while, yet he took it. Unbelief would have left the knife at home, but genuine faith takes it."

Genesis 22:11–12 (ESV)

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.”

Imagine the relief of Abraham… and Isaac!!

But Abraham passed the test!

3) Tests also reveal God’s faithfulness

It’s important for us to see where we are, but more important to see where God is

ILLUSTRATION: Having faith in this stool is great, but if it can’t hold me my faith is useless

I think I stole that from Glenn’s Hebrews series a couple of years ago

Genesis 22:13–14 (ESV)

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.”

ILLUSTRATION: From the paper mill to the ministry

In the end, I realized that even my faith has nothing to do with me

Because your faith is only as good as what you put your faith in!

4) Tests are a necessary part of our faith

James 1:2–8 (ESV)

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

In order to see the value of God’s provision, Abraham needed to see what he stood to lose

Going up into the hills and finding a ram isn’t the miracle, it’s the reminder

We are the sinners, and we should pay a terrible price, but thank God He provides!

Genesis 22:15–19 (ESV)

15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.

Now that it’s over, I’m sure he is relieved and is probably even thankful that he endured

5) Passing a test is worth the effort

It's not hard to walk away from something you hate, it’s hard to trust in a replacement you can’t see

One criticism here from many people: God seems cruel

Why? Abraham actually thought he was going to lose his son

No he didn’t - the only Abraham would think that is if what?

If he didn’t believe God’s promise...

But he does! Even to the point where if Isaac dies, Abraham believes he’ll rise from the dead

No matter what, Isaac will be the father of nations

Because Abraham already knows God will follow through, even if it takes a miracle

Honestly, even if God did ask Abraham to sacrifice his son...

He wouldn’t be asking him to do anything God wouldn’t do Himself

You want proof? Look at everything in this story:

Where else have we seen an only Son being sacrificed? Jesus.

How about someone carrying the wood for their own sacrifice? Jesus.

Or someone being willingly sacrificed?

Or a Father watching His Son walk to His death?

Or someone being permanently sacrificed, but walking out alive!

Or someone living out faith in a resurrection?

Or a substitute for the pain we don’t want to face?

And how about God providing the sacrifice we all so desperately need. Only in Jesus.

And so, I’ll leave you with this thought:

1 Samuel 15:22 ESV

22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

As with most things, God is not interested is substance.

He doesn’t care about the money you tithe, the objects you steal, the length of your prayers or your credit score.

He cares about your heart, and its desire to please Him through obedience and praise.

That, is the best sacrifice you can ever give to the One who gave it all for you.

Let’s pray…