The Battles of Religion

Genesis 22

Genesis 22 LSB

Now it happened after these things, that God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go forth to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from a distance. And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there; and we will worship, and we will return to you.” Then Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and put it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Then Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” And he said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them walked on together. Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood and bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar, on top of the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the boy, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.” Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there was a ram after it had been caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Yahweh Will Provide, as it is said this day, “In the mount of Yahweh it will be provided.” Then the angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, “By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.” So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and walked together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba. Now it happened after these things, that it was told to Abraham, saying, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: Uz his firstborn and Buz his brother and Kemuel the father of Aram and Chesed and Hazo and Pildash and Jidlaph and Bethuel.” And Bethuel was the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah and Gaham and Tahash and Maacah.

Elohim

Elohim - The “pluralistic” usage meaning heavenly hosts, can possibly refer to the Triune concept, could include the angels, and even those that fell. The importance of this “name” cannot be overlooked within the context of the passage. Abraham is living in an age when there are “many” gods. The test is not so much for Abraham, as it is a revelation to the relational and workings of

God:

The Father

The Son

The Holy Ghost

Angels: All ranks

The ultimate test is one of fear of and for God within the limits of value, quality, and attributes:

Authority

Power

Sovereignty

Freewill

Human Sacrifice

External evidence reveals that human sacrifice was the most popular form of sacrifice to the gods. Phoenician, Punic Colonies, Carthage, and even the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy all describe human sacrifice as a form of worship. Within the writings from the Phoenicians the sacrifices were made to “guarantee” a large family, beautiful and healthy children, a legacy of power and continued fertility. The most common practice is one of “walking through the fire.” A process by which the child would be “old” enough to walk through, approximate age is around 13-18. Again, the idea that this child was able to “reproduce” life. Sexual acts would also occur to “promote” the idea of the life cycle. “Temple” prostitution, surrogacy, in-vitro-fertilization, and other child bearing concepts derived from this practice of human sacrifice.

The Grace of God

Providing Grace - Yahweh Yireh (The LORD Will Provide). Provision grace is the unmerited show of favor in providing the details, specifics, and an “off-hands” approach to overcome an obstacle. Abraham is given all the information, the necessities for sacrifice, and the opportunity of choice.

Covenantal Grace - This grace is undeserved show of favor based on an oath or statements of promises. Yahweh makes an oath, upon His name, to bless the nations and curse the nations based upon how those nations treat Abraham. There is the covenant made regarding Abraham’s descendants, and Abraham’s obedience.

Enduring Grace - It is the grace that God bestows upon the “faithful” to overcome the obstacles and struggles. It is His grace for His purpose, as part of His test, He gives as He sees fit, for His glory.

The application of Faith

Faith is based on evidence and hope. Would you still serve God if you did not believe that you would go to Heaven? Would you still believe in God if you did not believe in the promises of God? Would you still follow God if you received nothing in return?