Leading Upward

The direction every dad should be leading their family

Text: Genesis 22:1-19

Introduction

There is Biblical evidence that any dad (any christian for that matter) who surrenders to God in faith and lives with a wholistic reverence to Him, is ready to lead his family upward.

The entire narrative of scripture is about God stooping downward to make a way for us to return upward! In God’s revelation narrative, we are diving in to the life of Abraham.

We all love this story about Abraham’s faith! It is enriched with amazing faith, strength, courage, and confidence. One thing that kept itching at me was this question, “What truths developed Abraham into this kind of dad?” I am talking about the kind of dad not stuck on getting everything he wanted, giving his son everything he wanted, but leading his family to the One they will always be in need to?

This set me on a reading journey of the details God has revealed to us about Abraham’s journey to Canaan. I truly believe that if we pay close attention (dad’s listen up?) we too can lead our family’s upward.

Deuteronomy 6:1–9 “1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

1) Become Familiar With God’s Voice

VERSE 1

A. God’s voice was unmistakable to Abraham

a) There was a history of listening to God’s voice

It began when God interrupted Abrahams life with a command to leave his home and start a journey to a new promised land.

Genesis 12:1–5 “1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”

B. God’s voice came with promise and safety

a) Abraham had learned the nature of God’s voice

This kind of understanding of God’s voice was learned.

Notice the distinction between chapter 12 and 22.

God didn’t wait for Abraham to give the go ahead to speak in chapter 12.

In chapter 22, Abraham immediately answered, “Here I am.”

In chapter 12 God forcefully interrupted and Abraham obeyed.

In chapter 22, Abraham invited God’s interruption.

2) Become Confident In God’s Nature

VERSES 2-5

A. Abraham had previously learned God should always be trusted

a) God doesn’t have to give you all the info up front in order for you to trust his leadership over your life and family.

This command sounded partially familiar — Genesis 12:1 “1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”

Illustration: Trusting the future brush strokes of the painter to paint the rest of the story well. Abraham’s actions (past and present) went against the cultural norm.

APP — Even though God’s direction may seem questionable and not supported by the culture, the promised destination is certain!

b) There was never a second when Abraham tried to present or implement a much more comfortable plan

Abraham had learned how much of a mess an “improvement” of God’s plan can get you in.

Moments of his life found in Genesis 16 is where he learned that.

B. Abraham & Sarah demonstrated confidence in God’s nature

a) The response to God’s command shows how Abraham had discipled his family and led them into trusting God

Anymore today, it’s hard to get the dad just to show up for weekly worship, let alone take responsibility in leading his home spiritually.

Men/Dad’s, you have a role to live out that your family is craving from you; LEAD THEM UPWARD!

To lead your family upward is to ready them to move forward for God’s glory and not their own.

There was a time when both Abraham and Sarah had laughed and doubted God’s plan and abilities…NOT NOW!

LISTEN…if you don’t walk with God now, you won’t reach the same point Abraham reached; an unshakable resolve toward God’s character, methods, timing, and plan.

b) The lack of hesitation to make preparations for this challenging journey speaks to “transformation.”

Genesis 15:1–6 “1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

Genesis 21:1–3 “1 And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.”

APP — Confidence toward God’s promise is the start to a transformed life.

Like Abraham, we too receive a righteous status before God the moment we place our trust in Jesus Christ.

3) Become Courageous Through God’s Abilities

VERSES 6-9

A. Isaac witnessed his dad trust God when things were unclear

a) Isaac knew that everything had not been accounted for.

There was the wood, knife, and fire, but no sacrifice.

Isaac had yet to learn that provision is not necessarily “what you have in hand,” but following the One who’s hands will provide when it is necessary.

b) Isaac knew that if dad trusted God’s abilities, so could he.

Notice what happens following Abraham’s response!

Genesis 22:8 “8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”

Q — When you take your children with you, is God ever in the picture? Do they ever know that they are with a dad who is trusting God to provide?

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

c) Abraham had preciously learned that nothing is impossible with God

A test from God sometimes might seem like God is contradicting Himself.

How could God guarantee Isaac to be the son of future promise when now He is telling Abraham to sacrifice his son???

It was similar to when God promised to give him an heir, but it would come from their old aged bodies.

Abraham had learned not to pursue what looks “pleasurable,” but to pursue what is “promising.”

In chapters 13, 14, and 19 he learned that pursuing a land where God is present is equal to claim a promising future.

4) Beholding Christ Through Obedience

VERSES 10-19

A. Isaac witnessed the intervention of Christ

a) Isaac possibly learned that Christ knew his dad by name

What a blessing to hear God call your dad by name!

Because of the same type of conversations happening in private, Abraham responded positively when it mattered most; when Isaac was near.

There is no greater joy than for a child to know that their daddy belongs to Jesus!

b) Isaac learned more deeply how much his dad loved God

Isaac now understands that this whole time his daddy was trusting God to show up and deliver him.

Isaac learned that the God his daddy loved, is the One who remains faithful

B. Isaac experienced the love of Christ

a) He personally experienced the salvation power of Christ

While this was a physical salvation, this was a foreshadowing of the ultimate salvation yet to come; Jesus’ death on the cross.

This very mountain would be the same mountain Christ Himself would be crucified.

b) Because Abraham didn’t hide Isaac away from the Lord, his son now will live the rest of his life with this powerful God moment.

A dad who walks fully yielded to God will become a conduit for God’s love to impact his family.

C. Abraham and Isaac worshiped God together

Because a dad had previously walked with God and learned from Him, now both father and son are walking back down the mountain with a mutual love for God.

Conclusion

How many of you dads today would love for your children to learn of God’s love in an unforgettable way? One way to do that is for you to walk with God daily and surrender your life to His will. Lead your family upward according to God’s instructions. The best dad you can give your family is a dad who walks with God, talks with God, trusts God’s plan, and loves God more than anything else. THAT KIND OF DAD will gift your children an interaction with God they will take with them for the rest of their life.

WHAT KIND OF DAD ARE YOU GIFTING YOUR FAMILY TODAY???