20230709 Genesis 22: The Greatest Chapter in the Hebrew Scriptures

Genesis 22 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.” 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. 20 Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.

May we receive this is as the inspired and historically perfect Word of God, let’s pray

Introduction:

This may be the greatest chapter in the Old Testament

The greatest love in the history of the world is foreshadowed in this chapter

The greatest sacrifice in the history of the world is foreshadowed in this chapter

The greatest act of obedience in the history of the world is foreshadowed in this chapter

Since the greatest commentary on the Bible is the Bible, we must begin this morning by allowing the Book of Hebrews to give us the Holy Spirit inspired insight into Genesis 22 -

Hebrews 11:11–12 ESV

11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Hebrews 11:17–18 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.”

Hebrews 11:19 (ESV)

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

(1) The Why

Abraham did what he did because he considered that God was able “even to raise him.”

Abraham’s test is theologically and historically extraordinary because he was called to sacrifice the heir on whom the blessing to the world itself depended. No other son occupied such a vital role (with the exception of Jesus), and so believers know that this circumstance was unique in God’s plan of redemption. God’s later mandate of substitution only reinforces the uniqueness of the Aqedah.

Finally, the whole of Genesis 22 shows us the Lord always planned to prevent Abraham from taking Isaac’s life. God knew He would stay the patriarch’s knife, thereby reinforcing the principle of substitutionary sacrifice, which reveals God’s mercy and grace (v. 12).

Coram Deo John Calvin writes, “The Lord, indeed, is so indulgent to our infirmity, that he does not thus severely and sharply try our faith: yet he intended in the father of all the faithful, to propose an example by which he might call us to a general trial of faith.” God will not test us as He did Abraham, yet He nevertheless will bring trials into our lives to strengthen our faith and bring us assurance. If you are facing a test of faith today, know that God can sustain you if you trust in Him.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

(2) The Who

Take your son, your only Son, whom you love

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

(3) The What

Abraham obeyed -

Hebrews 11:17 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,

(4) The obedience and work of Christ

Matthew 3:15 (ESV)

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”

Philippians 2:8 (ESV)

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The Active and Passive Obedience of Jesus

All this is the work and plan of a sovereign and holy triune God

The Covenant of Redemption

The perfect love of the Trinity for each other, the perfect communion of the Trinity determined in eternity past the perfect plan of the Trinity -

The Covenant of Works

The Covenant of Grace

Substitution and Imputation, the gifts of faith and righteousness

The Covenant of Works that Jesus accomplished

(5) Substitutionary Atonement and Imputation

Genesis 22:8 (ESV)

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

Romans 8:32 (ESV)

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?

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Impute: to credit or ascribe to someone the work or qualities of another

RC Sproul:

At the heart of the gospel is a double imputation: my sin is imputed to Jesus. His righteousness is imputed to me.

And in this twofold transaction, we see that God, who does not negotiate sin, who doesn't compromise His own integrity with our salvation but rather punishes sin fully and really after it has been imputed to Jesus, retains His own righteousness.

And so, He is both just and the justifier, as the Apostle tells us here. So my sin goes to Jesus; His righteousness comes to me in the sight of God.

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!