Abrahams Obedience
Obedience • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What do you do when Obedience to God is going to cost you something so dear to your heart that the thought brings you physical and emotional pain? We have visited Adam and Eve and last week we visited Noah. This week we visit Abraham. While we are jumping in later in the story with Abraham there are some important facts to understand. First the biggest moment in Abrahams life that we consider is the sacrifice of Issac. Before this though Abraham had walked in some very difficult situations with God and had built a life where God and Abraham spoke directly. Abraham was not a perfect man but was a man that desired a relationship with God above all else. He also knew the blessings of obeying God and knew the person of God. It is difficult for many people to gain the proper perspective of this test that God put Abraham through because no one in their right mind would have done what Abraham did. We for many accounts would put someone in prison today for what Abraham did. There though are some aspects that led to Abraham walking in obedience understanding that God would provide. When we are called to such a test of obedience in our lives will we walk through with it? Will you heed the call to do the unthinkable in your life? The most challenging things in your life? Obedience to God is not always something that we can comprehend or understand and this time for Abraham had to be one of the most difficult things for him to understand.
My kids do not always need to understand why I am telling them to do something. I used to hate hearing, because I told you so. I would think to myself. How arrogant of my parents to assume that I would do something just because they told me so. It is a phrase that in my parenting I have tried to avoid but have grown into using. I do not use it as a means to demean my children but in a way to help grow their confidence in me as their father. As a good father, a caring father. As a father who has their best interest in mind. We took the kids to a trampoline park years ago and there is a ropes course of sorts. You are harnessed in and you walk to the edge of a platform and when you walk to the end you are supposed to jump off the platform and down to the ground. I took Hunter up to this platform and always considered Hunter to be the fearless one of my kids. He still exhibits times of fearlessness. So I was shocked to see him literally shaking as he was being strapped into the harness. I made the determination to be the father of the year at this moment. As Hunter was being strapped in I told him to close his eyes. He said why? In this moment I could not explain to him why because it would ruin everything. I had plans that would make him into a man! I had plans that would help him achieve in every fear in his life. I was about to become the dad of the year in one simple action. I told Hunter to close his eyes and that I would walk with him to the edge of the platform. He asked why again and I used the dreaded words, because I said so. We walked towards the edge of the platform and I told Hunter that when we got to the edge I would count to 3 and would help him jump off the edge. We got to the edge of the platform and I told him to count to 3 and I would help him jump. He said 1 and I immediately pushed him off the edge of the platform. He screamed for the 6’ fall that was all controlled by a rope by the way. I was escorted off the platform and promptly banned from returning with any of my other children. By time I got to Hunter though I knew my plan was a success, he was ready to go again and to take the plunge by himself this time.
We view the test of Abraham as though it was a test of how much Abraham would do. It was not a test of how much Abraham would do but how much did Abraham Trust. What was the real measure of Abrahams understanding of his Father and did he really believe what God had told him? This morning we will be in Genesis 22 and we will see the things that led to Abraham having the utmost confidence in God and in the promises of God. First we will see All These Things. Second we will see Abrahams Commitment. Third we will see God’s Provision.
Turn with me in your Bible to Genesis 22:1-14
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.”
After These Things
After These Things
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
The very first thing we are presented with are the words After these things in Genesis 22:1. Of course these words are talking about the verses immediately before this chapter. These words though hold a much deeper meaning than just after the previous verses. Because of the way that Genesis was written these words would be a breaking point in the mind of the reader. The introduction of chapters and verses in AD 1227 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton were later used in the first English Bible, the Geneva Bible in 1560. These chapters and verses often cause us to miss out on the overall context and this is one of those examples. The words After these things in the original writing would have taken the reader to consider the entire context of Abram who because Abraham’s life. The reader would have known at this point to look back and to see the entire life of Abram how
he started in Canaan because his Father Terah had taken them to settle there.
The call of the Lord on Abram to move from the land of his family to an unknown land and Abrams faithfulness to do so.
Abrams failure in Egypt when he told Pharoah that Sarai was his sister and not his wife.
Moved to see Abrams faithfulness to righteousness over rightness in the treatment of his nephew as they separated due to the size of their flocks and possessions being too many to stay together.
Abrams love for Lot and his family in saving them from King Chedolaomer- I like to call him King Cheeto.
The blessing of Abram by Melchizedek and the desire to not allow a king to make him rich but trusting in God for his provision
Gods covenant with Abram and Abrams request to the Lord and the Lords promise to him( Remember this one)
The struggle with Sarai and Hagar and God’s promise to Hagar
Abram given the name Abraham and Sarai given the name Sarah and Gods covenant confirmed by God. Circumcision of the whole tribe.
The promise of God’s covenant with Abraham through Issac( Remember this one)
Issac's Birth.
And now we are at the sacrifice. Can you see how important the words After These Things are? This is to say, after all of God’s faithfulness and all of God’s coming through. After God’s promises and after God’s protections. After all of these things then God tested Abraham. God was not testing Abrahams ability to make a sacrifice but Abrahams trust in God. Remember God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation. Then He promised to do this through Issac. How then could a God who never failed now start to fail? God was testing Abrahams ability to trust in God when nothing made sense.
Couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. During a checkup, the doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember.
Later that night, while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. 'Want anything while I'm in the kitchen?' he asks.
'Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?'
'Sure..'
'Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?' she asks.
'No, I can remember it.'
'Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. Maybe you should write it down, so as not to forget it?'
He says, 'I can remember that. You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.'
'I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, write it down?' she asks.
Irritated, he says, 'I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream - I got it, for goodness sake!'
Then he toddles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, The old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs.. She stares at the plate for a moment.
'Where's my toast ?'
Remembering things for many of us is easy when we are talking about things that others have done to us or how things hurt us. When was the last time you took time to remember all the Good God has done for you? For Abraham because of his entire life knowing the person of God there was no doubt. After All These Things how could he ever doubt that God would keep his word to make him a great nation with Issac? The idea that Issac would be laid on the alter and die there was not a thought in Abraham’s mind because he considered All These Things. Do you consider “All These Things?” When is the last time you considered in all the ways God has come through for you, been faithful to you, been truthful? When God is calling you to something do you consider all the things that led you to that place? What we know is that Abraham took inventory of his life and the blessings of God in his life and we know this because a written or verbal record of these things made it to Moses who recorded it in the book of Genesis. Scripture says over and over to consider “ All These Things”
2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
9 remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
25 I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
All These Things led Abraham to a place of complete trust in God. Are you in a place of complete trust in God? Are you taking the time to consider All These Things in your life?
Abrahams Commitment
Abrahams Commitment
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.
Because Abraham knew who God was, because he walked with God. He knew in his heart that God was going to provide a sacrifice. It did not keep Abraham from taking every step in the process that God gave him. Abrahams obedience started immediately.
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.
Abraham rose early the next morning and set out to do what God had called him to do. Many of us would have spent time reasoning things in our mind. Surely this is not really what God wants. Our calling God’s character into question results in us delaying our obedience to Him. Instead of doing this Abraham rose the next morning because he was committed to the goodness of God he knew and committed to the understanding that God was going to come through. Are you moving when God calls you to? Or are you sitting down and trying to reason in your mind what God has called you to do. Do you trust God enough to know that He is faithful in your life and will come through for you?
Abrahams obedience was immediate but it was also steadfast
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.
The first thing we see is that Abraham had his young men stay behind. Why was this important? Because these young men were likely able to overpower Abraham and stop him from doing what God had called him to do. Abraham was so committed to what God said to do that he took the most dangerous part of the journey up the mountain without his body guards. He was committed to what God had called him to do. He was also committed to the goodness of God. We see this when Isaac said the fire wood is here but where is the lamb and Abrahams response was that God would provide. There was no hesitation in the trust. Abraham was also committed in the follow-through. Abraham trusted God fully and completely and even got to the point of raising his knife before God stopped him. What kind of faith is that. You see it was not about the sacrifice but about Abrahams faith in the goodness of God. Abraham even raising his knife knew that God is good and God is unable to go against His covenants. God had never failed up to that moment and was not going to fail in the moment. How many times in your life have you gotten up to the point of obedience and turned back because you just did not trust God enough. Obedience is directly tied to trust. When you trust God you can obey God like Abraham.
Years ago, Monroe Parker was traveling through South Alabama on one of those hot, sultry Alabama days. He stopped at a watermelon stand, picked out a watermelon, and asked the proprietor how much it cost. "It's $1.10," he replied. Parker dug into his pocket, found only a bill and said, "All I have is a dollar."
"That's ok," the proprietor said, "I'll trust you for it."
"Well, that's mighty nice of you," Parker responded, and picking up the watermelon, started to leave.
"Hey, where are you going?" the man behind the counter demanded.
"I'm going outside to eat my watermelon." "But you forgot to give me the dollar!"
"You said you would trust me for it," Parker called back.
"Yeah, but I meant I would trust you for the dime!"
"Mack," Parker replied, "You were't going to trust me at all. You were just going to take a ten-cent gamble on my integrity!"
Trusting God is no gamble and Abraham did not see this as a gamble. He was confident in God and remembered back to the promise of God to make him a nation through Isaac. Abrahams commitment came as a result of trusting in God completely. It certainly makes the words of that old Hymn so much more powerful doesn't it? Trust and Obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
2 “Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
When you trust in God as Abraham did you can be as committed to the goodness of God. Abraham was not committed to the sacrifice of his son, he was committed to the goodness of God. He was committed to the faithfulness of God. The framing of this scripture has often been taken from chapter 22 in Genesis when this chapter cannot be understood unless you take in the context of Genesis 12-20. Are you committed to obedience in God? You cannot be obedient to God unless you really trust Him. It is time for the church to stop making a 10 cent gamble on God and Trust Him at His Word. Abraham considered All These Things, this lead him to a place of complete trust in the Goodness of God and it caused him to be committed to what God called him to do. God’s Goodness resulted in God’s provision.
God’s Provision
God’s Provision
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.”
God doing as Abraham knew he would stopped Abraham and provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. God knew that the covenant that He made was with a man who trusted God to fulfil the covenant. Abraham was not a man to sit back and consider things but fully trusted in the name of “Jehovah Jireh”. It is not that Abraham did not have times in his life where he did not have that complete trust in God. Remember the time in Egypt when he was scared for his life? Those times in his life lead him to a place of complete trust in God. We serve a God who will provide in all that He is calling for your life. I am not some special spiritual person. The days of High priests are over. Jesus is the High Priest and God lives among His people. God though has called me to a place of presenting His Word and reminding us together as a family to trust in Him. God was never not going to provide for Abraham. There was not hesitation, anxiety, worry documented in this, only complete obedience. We can add what we think might have happened but based on the scriptures given we can see that complete obedience and trust lead to God’s complete provision. Many people are lacking the complete provision in their life because they are not fully trusting and obeying in their life. Abraham was lead to a place of complete trust because he remembered All These Things, Committed to Obedience, and over and over saw God provide. We will close today with some scripture about God’s provisions in our lives. Before I do though what is God calling you to do? It is not always things like becoming a missionary or a pastor, a deacon or a Sunday School teacher. God is simply calling some of you in here to be loving spouses, loving parents, loving children. Honest workers, dedicated leaders. Are you answering the call of God in obedience or are you still trying to make sense of what God is calling you to do in your mind? Start by completely trusting Him and His provisions will be more than you could ever ask for.
9 You visit the earth and water it;
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide their grain,
for so you have prepared it.
10 You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
11 You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.
12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
