Believe For It - Sacrifice

Hebrews 11:17-19

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,

18 the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac.,

19 He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.

Abraham proved that he believed God by walking in faith as a pilgrim.

He left the land of Ur and ventured toward a promised land.

He received promises from God in Gen 12 and 17

He would be a blessing to all people and a blessed nation would arise from his family.

He and Sarah were promised a child.

Last week, we learned that Abraham pursued much more than a earthly place to live. He sought after a kingdom. The promise was a kingdom that can never be shaken. A heavenly place.

Genesis 22:2.

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.”

Have you gotten softer as you you have progressed through adulthood?

Abraham was called to make a sacrifice that was extremelly challenging.

BIBLE - Basic Instructions before leaving earth.

“Most often, people, whether Christian or note, see it essentially as a moral guidebook. But if we read (Gen 22) through that lens, we’re in for a shock. when God says, “Sacrifice your son,” how should we react?

Abraham was a man who would sacrifice anything to honor God.

1. God Honor’s Every Promise He Makes.

Genesis 17:3-8.

3 Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: 4 “As for me, here is my covenant with you: You will become the father of many nations.

5 Your name will no longer be Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you.

7 I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.

8 And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as a permanent possession, and I will be their God.”

Verse 17

“tested” (peirazo) - Put to the test

“offering” (prosphero) - bring to bear

If you could choose a word for Abraham that encompassed his life before God, a strong candidate would be “obedient”.

He obeyed God often which led to his legendary status in the Bible.

As God proved his promises to be true, he tested Abraham by asking him to give his “one and only son.”

Ishmael was Abrahams attempt to bring God’s promises forward.

Isaac was the son of promise.

In this situation, Abraham was tempted to believe that God wanted to go back on his promise.

Taking off the training wheels. We want our children to trust us so they won’t be an adult riding a bike like a child.

Abraham’s willingness to offer Isaac is proof that man is capable of believing in God even when circumstances tempt one to believe that God is against them.

He didn’t feel good about this, but he could not and would never hold back anything from God.

We want to believe that as Christian people, we have placed everything on the table for God to use.

Chances are, there is something or several areas that we could never let go of.

Why would God give you something only to take it away?

Faith is the only way we can work through difficult moments when the Lord would ask one of us to sacrifice something that is meaningful to our life.

Abraham offered Isaac “by faith”.

He believed that God would never go back on his promise.

Nothing is strong enough to sacrifice what means to the most.

Sacrificial living is a powerful way to tell God you trust Him.

2. God’s Purpose is Deeper Than We Realize.

I read an article this week that really helped me better understand Gen 22.

Isaac was extremely important. Vital to salvation.

Picture baby Isaac lying in Abrahams arms. What do you have? The hope of the world.

Without Isaac, there is no Jewish nation, no Jesus, and no salvation.

Don’t drop him Abraham!

The mountain where the sacrifice took place was in the region of Moriah. Mount Moriah became the temple mount in Jerusalem according to 2 Chronicles 3:1.

Isaac is the only beloved son, the hope of the world, the source of all blessing. He’s trudging up the hill with wood on his back (Gen. 22:6); remind you of anything?

A hill near Jerusalem; ring any bells?

God is showing off right now!

Romans 4:20-25.

20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.

22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness., 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Some day, God would send his one and only Son, Jesus to carry a cross up a hill called Calvary where he would be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind.

Abraham obeyed and glorified God.

Even though God stopped him from slaying Isaac, he credited Abraham as having made the ultimate sacrifice.

This story is a faith builder. Not a barrier.

God would never ask someone to do something he wouldn’t do. He would offer his one and only son to be slain on the cross.

VBS Week. We do it to reach children for the gospel, but I also see so much more.

God’s purpose is real. He knows exactly what He is doing. Don’t doubt his purpose. There is always more. He’s teaching, working, orchestrating. Nothing is random with God.

God uses sacrifice to teach his children to trust Him as all we need.

God is sufficient alone.