Great is Thy Testing!

Fall 2024, Evening Services

Genealogy of Jesus

Message #7

Genesis 22:1-19.

Central Idea: Following the calling of God on our lives requires great faith and obedience.

Guiding Question: What do we learn about God’s calling from these verses?

The Hebrew verb nissah, translated as tested, means “to prove the quality of,” not “to entice to do wrong.” God used this event to affirm the sterling character of Abraham’s faith

(Bergen, Robert D. 2017. “Genesis.” In CSB Study Bible: Notes, edited by Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax, 41. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.)

God’s calling is costly. [vv. 1-2]

Again, God calls Abraham “to go… to one of the mountains i will tell you about”

This time, similar to last, required sacrifice.

Before: Sacrifice of family inheritance, home land, and extended family in home land

Now: Sacrifice of his son, his only son, whom he loved.

This is his legitimate son— Ishmael has been sent away; Isaac is the son of the promise.

Consequently, God’s calling requires sincere trust. [vv. 3-8]

The journey from Beersheba to Jerusalem was likely a three day journey. [v. 4]

Abraham’s calling required much faith— leave your father’s house (Gn. 12:1) would forfeit the traditional route of inheritance, but it was inheritance God was promising; Now, God has given him a son as a result of and fulfillment of the promise, yet, now God demands him to sacrifice his son, Isaac, the immediate fulfillment of the promise and again what seems to be the route of inheritance promised to him.

Hebrews 11:17–19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.”

Abraham’s faith is demonstrated through his confidence in God’s provision of the lamb. (v. 8)

God’s calling damnds forward-focused obedience. [vv. 9-13a]

Perhaps in two ways:

The sacrifice was provided in place of his son, Isaac.

The sacrifice was a ram, not a lamb.

Later all Israel would offer animals to the Lord. Worship involved accepting God’s sacrificial substitute. But of course in the New Testament God substituted His only Son for the animal, and the perfect Sacrifice was made. John certainly had this in mind when he introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

(Ross, Allen P. 1985. “Genesis.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, 1:65. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

b. Yet, the emphasis of this passage is the obedience of Abraham, not even sparing his son, but willingly taking the journey to sacrifice him and following through in trusting God to provide.

For the forward focus: Romans 8:32 “He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?”

God’s calling results in reward. [vv. 13b-19]

Again, God confirms his covenant with Abraham.

Genesis 15:5 “He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.””

Genesis 15:18–21 “On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River: the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hethites, Perizzites, Rephaim, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.””

Genesis 17:3–8 “Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “As for me, here is my covenant with you: You will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. 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. 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.””

Genesis 22:15-19. — one addition added to the covenant promise: sand of the seashore {v. 17]

Notice Genesis 22:19— the beauty of went together— brings to close in full measure what was introduced by faith in Genesis 22:5 “Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.””

The lessons about true worship are timeless: (1) Faith obeys completely the Word of God. (2) Faith surrenders the best to God, holding nothing back. (3) Faith waits on the Lord to provide all one’s needs. But God does not provide until personal sacrifice has been made. True worship is costly. This was always so for Israel when they brought sacrifices. Those offerings were supposed to be given in faith so God would provide all the needs of each willing worshiper.

(Ross, Allen P. 1985. “Genesis.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, 1:65. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Reflective Question:

In the test of life this week, specifically of your faith, how will you measure up? To be proven obedient and full of faith, or lacking in either?