The Test of a Father's Faith

The comedian Bill Cosby insists that Mother's Day is a much bigger deal because Mothers are more organized. Mothers say to their children: Now here is a list of what I want. Go get the money from your father and you surprise me on Mother's Day. You do that for me. Cosby said: For Father’s Day I give each of my five kids $20 so that they can go out and by me a present——a total of $100. They go to the store and buy two packages of underwear, each of which costs $5 and contains three shorts.

They tear them open and each kid wraps up one pair, the sixth going to the Salvation Army. Therefore, on Father’s Day I am walking around with new underwear and my kid’s are walking around with $90 worth of my change in their pockets. Technically we could argue that Father’s Day is not a religious holiday; but it is nonetheless important for us to recognize it. (Adapted, Sermon Illustrations, 1999)

Some time ago, the startling results of

research conducted by the Christian Business Men's Committee found the following: When the father is an active believer, there is about a seventy-five percent likelihood that the children will also become active believers. But if only the mother is a believer, this likelihood is dramatically reduced to fifteen percent.

Keith Meyering, Discipleship Journal, issue #49, p. 41.

Truly, it is essential for both fathers and mothers to demonstrate a godly faith to their children. With this thought in mind, we are looking at a story of Abraham, the father of our faith, in our scripture today.

Abraham is called the father of our faith, and for good reason. God created a special covenant with Abraham and promised to bless his descendants.

Years later, God renewed the covenant with Abraham’s son, Isaac. Then the covenant was renewed with Jacob’s, Isaac’s son, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, the chosen people of God through whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be born.

But Abraham is also the father of our faith in that long before Abraham was circumcised, God declared him righteous because of Abraham’s faith in God. Thus, Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believe in God, whether circumcised or not.

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As the father of our faith, it only makes sense that his entire life demonstrates what it means to trust God. Abraham faced four great tests of his faith throughout his life.

The first test Abraham faced was when God called ot him as a seventy-five year old, telling him to leave his family in Haran and to go where God showed him.

The second test Abraham faced was when he and his nephew Lot’s herds had increased so much that there was not enough pasture to support them.

By law and convention, Abraham should have had first choice where to pasture his flocks. Instead, he let his nephew, Lot, choose. Lot chose the best pastureland, which was near the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham may have had some concern about how his flocks would survive on the land left to him. But after Lot left, God told Abraham to look around. God promised him all the land north, south, east and west as far as he could see.

The third test came some time later. God had reiterated his promise to Abraham that he would have a son. But when God’s promise was not immediately fulfilled, Sarah suggested that Abraham could see the promise fulfilled by having a son through her servant Hagar.

Ishmael was born and soon there was trouble between Sarah and Hagar. Sometime later, God spoke to Abraham and told him that Sarah would give birth to the promised son.

Abraham protested, asking God to accept Ishmael as the son of his promise. But God said no, Sarah would have a son. Abraham believed God. Even though Abraham was 99 years old and Sarah 89, he believed God would fulfill his word.

About a year later, Isaac was born.

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Genesis 22:1 ESV

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

This story in Genesis 22 tells us of the fourth test of Abraham’s faith. The events of our text took place some time after Isaac was born. We are not told exactly how old Isaac was at this point.

Even though the scripture refers to Isaac as a “boy”, the very next chapter, Genesis 23, begins by telling us that Sarah lived to 127 and then died. Isaac was born when she was 90. So, Isaac could have been 30-some years of age when the events of Genesis 22 took place!

At this time, Abraham was living at Beersheba, a three-days distance from Mt. Moriah where Abraham would take Isaac for the sacrifice.

Mt. Moriah is believed to be the same mountain upon which Jerusalem and the Temple were constructed, … and the location of Golgotha where Jesus gave his life on the Cross for the sins of the world.

As we study our scripture for God’s message to us on this Father’s Day, Abraham, the father of our faith, teaches us a crucial lesson…

Big Idea: Our response to God's tests demonstrates our faith in Him.

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In life, when we go through tests, a critical part of learning and improving is to evaluate how we responded to the test.

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This is true, whether it be going over a math test in high school and trying to understand the various mistakes we did to gain all those red Xs OR a coach and players sit in a locker room and go over game footage to learn lessons from what they did right and wrong in the big game OR a business team spends time evaluating their last quarter’s performance.

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In that same vein of thought, let us evaluate how Abraham responded to this test of his faith for lessons we can learn about how to demonstrate our faith in God.

1. Are you listening to God's voice?, vv. 1-2.

Genesis 22:1–2 ESV

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

Throughout Abraham’s life as he lived for God we read of this man of faith worshiping God before various altars. Time after time, God spoke to Abraham. Abraham heard God’s voice and acted accordingly.

Abraham was listening for God’s voice. Abraham had established a habit of communicating with God such that he recognized the voice. And Abraham welcomed God speaking into his life by listening carefully.

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There is a great problem with our text. That is, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son on an altar.

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How could God command Abraham to do such a babaric thing?

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Of course, human sacrifice, especially of newborn children, was practiced frequently by various pagan religions. But all that we know about God and the sanctity of life would suggest that such an evil practice would never be sanctioned by God.

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How could God tell Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice?

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Yes, the wording of Genesis 22:1 is key. Our scripture says that “God tested Abraham.” In other words, God never intended for Abraham to actually kill his son, but God wanted to see if Abraham truly trusted God, enough that he would do this terrible thing, even though it seemed contradictory to God’s nature.

But notice also that Abraham recognized this voice was from God. Someone less familiar with the voice of God might immediately discount such an idea as coming from the enemy of our souls.

Rationally, scientifically, logically, one might rule out this message as opposed to God’s charactar. Thus, they might conclude, God was NOT truly asking Abraham to offer his only son as a sacrifice.

(PAUSE)

The truth is… God was. God himself told Abraham to offer his son as a child sacrifice.

When asked how much time he spent in prayer, George Muller's reply was, "Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk and when I lie down and when I arise. And the answers are always coming."

Source Unknown.

2. Will you obey God immediately?, vv. 3-4.

Genesis 22:3–4 ESV

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. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

Why did Abraham get up early in the morning to leave?

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Quite frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the reasons why he left early… wasn’t necessarily spiritual.

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I think Abraham got up early and left because he didn’t want to talk to his wife!

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Can you imagine how Sarah may have responded if Abraham told her what he was planning to do?

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“Over my dead body! No way are you going to take Isaac to offer him as sacrifice! Abraham, you know that God doesn’t condone human sacrifices.

“Isaac was our miracle child! Indeed, he is God’s promise to us. Do you think I’m going to get pregnant again (remember: Sarah was somewhere between 90 and 125 or so at this point!)?”

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Another reason for Abraham getting up early… if I were in his place, I don’t think I would have slept very well that night. Maybe at some point early morning, he decided, “You know, I haven’t slept yet; I might as well get up.”

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These factors may have played a part in Abraham’s early rising. But, the main reason why Abraham got up early was because he was committed to obeying the will of God.

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Many of us are good at delaying things. Often, that’s why we guys have such long honey-do lists. We keep putting off those things our wives have asked us to do time after time.

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Unfortunately, many people respond the same way to God’s voice. They find this thing and that thing that have to be done more immediately. The important falls to the tyranny of the urgent.

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Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Abraham passed this test of faith with flying colors in part because he immediately, without hesitation or objection, set himself to do what God said.

Abraham got himself ready, his son, and two of his servants. Their destination was several days away. Abraham, Isaac, and the two helpers resolutely set out on their journey.

Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.

Thomas a Kampis.

3. How great is your faith in God?, vv. 4-8.

Genesis 22:4–8 ESV

On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 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.” 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. 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?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

In these verses we find astonishing expressions of faith in God. Do you see them?

On the third day, this little group was close to the area God revealed to Abraham where he should sacrifice his son. So, Abraham stopped. He did not want his two servants to interfere with his obedience to God’s will.

But listen to what Abraham told them.

Genesis 22:5 ESV

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.”

Notice, Abraham said that both he and the boy would worship and then come back to them.

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How would the boy return with Abraham if he were to be sacrificed on the altar?

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Did Abraham believe that God would somehow resurrect the boy after he was slain?

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Then, as Abraham and Isaac continued up the mountain Isaac finally asked a poignant question: “We have a fire and we have wood, but where is the lamb?”

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.

Yes, this may have been a way for Abraham to deflect Isaac’s question, a way for Abraham NOT to say, “Well, I’m going to offer you as the sacrifice!”

Yet Abraham’s words appear to be more than that. Here we see a confident assertion of faith in God. Abraham did not understand what God was doing. He didn’t understand God’s command to perform a human sacrifice. He especially didn’t understand God’s command to offer his only son, the son of God’s promise.

But he believed God. He believed God to make a way. He believed God to provide the lamb for the sacrifice.

One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and them yelled "Hey Dad!" I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk.

When I found my voice again I gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???"

He responded with remarkable calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt because I could be trusted. Isn't this even more true for a Christian?

Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 46-47.

As we continue to evaluate the lessons we can learn from God’s testing of Abraham, we find another question we should ask ourselves:

4. Will you submit everything to God?, vv. 9-12.

Genesis 22:9–12 ESV

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. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.”

Admittedly, it is hard to picture this scene. For one, it is hard to picture someone about to make a human sacrifice. For another, whatever Isaac’s age was - whether he was 13 or 33 - it is hard for us to imagine how Abraham, anywhere from 113 to 133 years old, was able to bind his son and place him on the altar.

Quite frankly, we must assume that Isaac meekly submitted to his father and allowed his dad to bind his arms and legs. Maybe he even climbed up on the altar himself?!

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It is also hard to picture this scene when we truly consider what this sacrifice meant to Abraham.

Abraham was seventy-five years old when God called him to leave his family in Haran and go to the land God would show him. At that point, Abraham was already well past the age that most would have children, but God promised to make of him a great nation.

Over the next 25 years, Abraham traveled from place to place. Truly, he seemed to almost have given up on the idea of having a child a couple of times, but God’s promise renewed his faith. He believed God and God finally delivered.

Now, possibly 40-60 years after Abraham first left Haran, God had told Abraham to sacrifice the one person he had longed for, dreamed of, and had finally received.

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It was the end of a dream. And, somehow, his son, even though he obviously knew what was about to happen, meekly allowed himself to be placed on the altar awaiting the death blow.

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Abraham unsheathed his knife.

He raised it in both hands.

(PAUSE)

Then, a split second before Abraham plunged the knife downwards…

Genesis 22:11–12 ESV

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.”

Can you picture Abraham, weak from tension, slumping against the altar, the knife falling from his fingers and clattering to the ground?

Abraham passed the test!

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How?

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He had been willing to give his all - to submit absolutely everything he counted of value - to God’s prerogative.

This is the question God asks of each of us - fathers, mothers, boys, girls, grandparents, single or widowed, whatever state we are in. God wants to know if we love him more than anything else.

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Actually, God is all-knowing. God knows all about your heart, your mind, your desires and passions in life.

But God wants you to know what is truly most important to you. For if we make anything in this world our most important value, we will have truly missed what is best.

This world will pass away, but all who choose God will live for eternity.

Jesus said…

Mark 8:35–37 ESV

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

As we have studied our scripture today, we have noted that…

Big Idea: Our response to God's tests demonstrates our faith in Him.

And so we asked four questions to determine how we respond to God’s tests… 

1. Are you listening to God's voice?, vv. 1-2.

2. Will you obey God immediately?, vv. 3-4.

3. How great is your faith in God?, vv. 5-8.

4. Will you submit everything to God?, vv. 9-12.

The final verses of our text tell us…

Genesis 22:13–14 ESV

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. 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.”

This story of Abraham offering his son Isaac is a powerful story of how God tested Abraham so that Abraham’s faith might be proven and strengthened.

Yet this story is also type - an illustration - of an even greater truth. This story illustrates how God the Father offered his only Son - Jesus Christ - as the one-time offering for the sin of the world.

While each one of us should die for our own sins, God provided a Lamb - the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God - as our substitute.

The Son of God willingly submitted to the Father’s plan. He suffered and died on the Cross.

But on the third day, Christ arose victorious over sin and death! And now Jesus offers each one of us forgiveness and cleansing of sin … for he paid our debt, and we can live free, just like Isaac lived because God provided a lamb for Abraham to offer instead.

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If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I urge you to pray to God. Admit your need of forgiveness for sins you have committed. Believe that Jesus died in your place. And commit your life to live for God.

If we confess our sins and put our trust in Jesus, he will forgive us and grant us assurance in our hearts that we are forgiven, we are made new, and we are now the children of God.

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Abraham, the father of our faith, learned through this experience in his life that…

Big Idea: Our response to God's tests demonstrates our faith in Him.

My hope in sharing this story with you today is that you might be reminded that genuine faith in God is demonstrated by corresponding works. How we live - the things we say, do, and think - should match our profession of faith in Jesus.

My prayer is that Abraham’s beautiful expression of faith in God by works will create in you a hunger to know God more deeply. And I pray that you will commit not merely to trust but also to serve God in faith.

Will your life this week demonstrate your faith in Jesus?