THE OFFERING OF ISAAC

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The Offering of Isaac

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INTRODUCTION

Genesis 22:1-14 is the high-water mark in the book of Genesis

Genesis 22:1–14 ASV
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Here am I. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? 8 And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided.

Again, Genesis 22:1-14 is the high-water mark in the book of Genesis, in the life of Abraham, and in the life of Isaac.

The offering of Isaac is discussed three times in the Bible (Gen. 22:1-14; Jam. 2:21-22; Heb. 11:17-19)

James 2:21–22 ASV
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;
This event is discussed in the context of genuine faith.
Hebrews 11:17–19 ASV
17 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.
Abraham is in the Faith's Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, along with many other great servants of faith.

God had made a promise to Abraham

Genesis 12:1–3 ASV
1 Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto the land that I will show thee: 2 and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: 3 and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
This promise was given six times to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15; 17; 18:16-19; 22:17-19)

In Genesis 21:2 Isaac is born

Genesis 21:2 ASV
2 And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Abraham now has the son he has always wanted, the one that God had promised
But notice now what the Lord tells Abraham in…
Genesis 22:1–2 ASV
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham; and he said, Here am I. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
The Lord wants Abraham to sacrifice his precious boy!
What would you do in this situation?
Would we have the type of Faith that Abraham had in this situation?

Let us now observe what the offering of Isaac revealed concerning the faith of Abraham.

DISCUSSION

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY

This is affirmed twice in the Scriptures

Hebrews 11:17
James 2:21-22

Biblical faith, in every dispensation, has always shown itself in obedience:

Patriarchal Age:
Hebrews 11:4 ASV
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
Hebrews 11:7 ASV
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Hebrews 11:8 ASV
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Mosaic Age:
Hebrews 11:30 ASV
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.
Hebrews 11:32–39 ASV
32And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. 35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. 39And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
Christian Age:
Acts 8:12 ASV
12 But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
"Obedience of faith"
Romans 16:26 ASV
26 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:
"Faith working by love"
Galatians 5:6 ASV
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.
James 2:14–20 ASV
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. 19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?
James 2:24 ASV
24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.
Here we are informed that a faith without works of obedience is:
Dead ... Imperfect
No better than the devil's faith
A contradiction to God's word
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY - but consider this…

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS

Notice the exactness of God's directions…

Genesis 22:2 ASV
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Specified what He wanted - a burnt offering
Specified whom He wanted - Isaac
Specified where He wanted it - Mount Moriah
Abraham obeyed with exactness!

God gave Noah exact directions…

Noah obeyed with exactness
"Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he" (Gen. 6:22).

God gave Moses exact directions

Hebrews 8:5 ASV
5 who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.
Moses obeyed with exactness

When man does not obey with exactness, serious consequences will result

Consider the situation of Uzzah
2 Samuel 6:6–7 ASV
6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
This violated…
Exodus 25:14 ASV
14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, wherewith to bear the ark.
To be carried with staves by the Levites
Consider the situation of Moses in…
Numbers 20:7–12 ASV
7 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle. 12 And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
Moses smote the rock and didn't give God the glory.

Many today are trying to treat obedience like a game of horse shoes ... just trying to be close

We must take the greatest lengths possible to obey with exactness
Abraham had a faith that obeyed with exactness
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION

There would have been plenty that Abraham could have questioned God about:

Only heathen nations offer human sacrifices
How will the promise be fulfilled?

Did Abraham respond in this way?

"Do you really mean it, Lord?"
"Can't you tell someone else to do it?"
"What about Ishmael?"
"Can't I be faithfully thine without doing just this one thing?"
"Is not this requiring too much?"

Why didn't Abraham ask these questions?

His faith was too strong
Romans 4:20–22 ASV
20 yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.
We must never put a ( ? ) where God has put a ( . )
We should never question the Lord for He always know what is best…
Isaiah 55:8–9 ASV
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WHEN SUCH WAS NOT CONVENIENT

Notice the inconvenience for Abraham

There were donkeys to saddle
Young men to recruit, wood to gather
A three-day journey to make, thus - two days of camping.

It is not always convenient to obey and serve God

The eunuch traveled some 1,000 miles to worship God (Acts 8:26-40)
What about the persecution Paul had to bear?
Persecution is never convenient
2 Corinthians 11:24–28 ASV
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; 26 in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from my countrymen, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.
1 Kings 12:25–29 ASV
25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David: 27 if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
Not convenient so he changed God's plan

We must realize that we all have crosses to bear

Matthew 16:24 ASV
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
It is not always convenient to:
Attend worship
Study your Bible
Teach the lost
Encourage a way-ward member
Do any aspect of the Lord's work

Convenience must never dictate our faithfulness

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WHEN SUCH WAS NOT CONVENIENT

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY REGARDLESS OF THE COST

Oh, what a price Abraham had to pay!

Obedience can be a very costly thing:

Obedience cost Job everything (Job 1)
It cost Moses riches and esteem
Hebrews 11:24–27 ASV
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Obedience cost Daniel his safety (Dan. 6:10-24)
Obedience cost Stephen his life (Acts 6:10-24)

There is a cost attached to Christianity

Luke 14:25–33 ASV
25 Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it? 29 Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him, 30 saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace. 33 So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
We must not teach or practice discount Christianity!
2 Samuel 24:24 ASV
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

What will obedience cost us? It may cost us our:

Friends ... family
Job
Personal joys and habits

But whatever the cost, it pays to be obedient unto the Lord

Mark 10:28–31 ASV
28 Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
God's shovel is bigger than our shovel
CONCLUSION

Is it any wonder that Abraham is called "a friend of God"? (Jam. 2:23)

Why was Abraham a friend of God?

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WHEN SUCH WAS NOT CONVENIENT
THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY REGARDLESS OF THE COST

Are you a friend of God?

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