A Test of Faith Genesis 22:1-19

My Favorite Illustrations The Test Is in the Life

Billy Graham held a one-month crusade in Oklahoma City in 1956. In 1983 he was back in the city for a one-week crusade.

Someone asked me if the results of Dr. Graham’s crusades really lasted. My reply was that a man who was saved in the 1956 crusade was the general chairman of the 1983 crusade. I could tell of many similar cases.

The test of any crusade or revival meeting is not determined at its conclusion. The test is in the ongoing commitment expressed in the lives of those who were spiritually touched.

-God tests the faith of His people as an opportunity for greater blessing.

I. God Will Test Your Faith vv. 1-8

At this point in the lives of the Patriarchs, we come to a transition point, as we refocus from Abraham to his son Isaac.

In this passage, we will see the faith of both of these men on display

They will be put to the test and will come through with flying colors

To understand this passage, we must understand something about God: He will not tempt you, but He will test you. What is the difference?

A temptation is an invitation to sin by committing an act of disobedience against the Lord

A test is an invitation to deeper obedience that is intended to bring you into closer fellowship with the Lord

However, we must understand, the greater the faith, the greater the test

We have seen Abraham walk with the Lord through some deep waters already, but now God is going to test him in the deepest matter of his heart: His son

I believe that there is nothing more precious in Abraham’s sight than his promised son, Isaac and that is exactly what the Lord invites Abraham to sacrifice.

This is a severe test, because it seems to fly in the face of the promises of hope and posterity that the Lord has given to Abraham

This is a severe test, because it calls into question everything that Abraham seems to understand about God

On the other side of the test, Abraham will learn two important lessons:

He will understand himself and the nature of his own faith.

He will either pass or fail.

While we all want to be found faithful, there is even hope in failing the test, because it uncovers the maturity and sincerity of your faith!

He will understand the person and the character of God differently

Job 42:1–5

[1] Then Job answered the LORD and said:

[2] “I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

[3] ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

[4] ‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

[5] I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you; (ESV)

II. God Will Provide vv. 9-14

As the story continues, Abraham and Isaac are models of faithfulness

It is heartbreaking to hear Isaac’s question: “Where is the lamb?”

But it is equally hopeful to hear Abraham’s response: “The Lord will provide”

How do we respond when we face this kind of challenge?

First, we trust God’s promise

Abraham is dealing with two conflicting pieces of information: God’s promise of a family through Isaac and God’s command to sacrifice Isaac.

When confronted with this disconnect, Abraham trusts that the Lord will fulfill His promise through the obedience

It turns out, obedience to God is always wise

Likewise, disobedience is always foolish

However, we only understand the wisdom of obedience by faith!

Hebrews 11:17–19

[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. (ESV)

Then, we remember God’s pattern

All of the things that take place here are important because they point us to an even bigger picture, demonstrating how God provides the redemptive sacrifice:

His Son dies so that ours doesn’t

Jesus is the obedient son like Isaac who is willing to lay down His life

Yet, He is also the ram in the thicket, wearing a crown of thorns who will die as the substitute sacrifice

When we consider God’s pattern of provision through Jesus, it compels us forward in faith; if He gave up His own Son for us, what good thing would He not provide for us?

Romans 8:31–32

[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (ESV)

Last, we experience God’s provision

The Lord spares Isaac and provides the ram; this is important because of a deep truth, no act of faith or sacrifice made by Abraham could satisfy the righteousness of God

This is a hard truth, but important. Our best will never be enough and we must place our faith in the sacrifice that God provided rather than the one that we made!

John 5:39

[39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, (ESV)

III. God Will Reward Faithfulness vv. 15-19

On the other side of this test is a blessing

Abraham has been found faithful and has walked into a greater obedience than ever before

There is a direct reward for Abraham’s faith and I think that it is worth unpacking

God initiated Abraham’s life of faith with His calling

From beginning to end, it has been all about God’s work in Abraham’s life

Now that God prepares to reward Abraham’s faith, He does it with the same promises that He made before Abraham ever demonstrated faithfulness

It turns out that Abraham did not do anything to earn God’s favor or blessing; yet it is through obedient faith that Abraham is able to experience them

Faith is the vehicle by which we receive God’s promises:

By faith, Abraham left his homeland to go to a promised land

By faith, Abraham and Sarah conceived a son in their old age

By faith, Abraham received that son back

What would the life that you are being called to live by faith look like? What are you missing when you do not live by faith!

I want you to take a moment with me to consider how different things might have been for Abraham and Sarah. Imagine the pair, living good lives, blessed lives even, in their homeland. Lives with no detours in Egypt, lives with less dangers, lives without a promised land, and lives without a covenant promise.

In 1269 Kublai Khan sent a request from Peking to Rome for "a hundred wise men of the Christian religion...And so I shall be baptized, and when I shall be baptized all my baron and great men will be baptized, and their subjects baptized, and so there will be more Christian here than there are in your parts." The Mongols were then wavering in the choice of a religion. It might have been, as Kublai forecast, the greatest mass religious movement the world has ever seen. The history of all Asia would have been changed.

But what actually happened? Pope Gregory X answered by sending two Domnican friars. They got as far as Armenia, could endure no longer and returned home. So passed the greatest missionary opportunity in the history of the church.