Genesis 22:1-24 "Sacrificing the Only Son"

Good evening, Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Thank you for joining us this evening as we continue our chapter and verse journey through the Book of Genesis.

Please turn in your Bibles to Gen 22. Gen 22:1-24 this evening.

In Chapter 21… Isaac was born… Hagar and Ishmael were sent away from the camp… which became a typology to explain the difference between human effort and divine promise, and the difference between bondage and freedom.

A allegory expanded upon in Gal 4:21-31 where Paul explained the incompatibility of law and grace.

At the end of Chapter 21, Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech the king of Gerar…

Which was a lesson on resolving conflicts… and settling disputes…

We spoke about the Reconciliation Meal… which is even pictured when Jesus reinstated Peter after Peter denied Him three times.

And for Abraham, after working out an issue over a well, he entered into peace with his neighbor… and enacted a covenant which happened at Beersheba.

Tonight, as we enter Genesis 22… we come to a very significant scene in the Bible of “Sacrificing the Only Son”… which is our message title this evening.

This was a real-to-life historical event that stands as a type of Christ’s Sacrifice.

Isaac’s near-sacrifice foreshadowed the greater sacrifice of Jesus… pointing forward to God’s ultimate provision of His own Son… Jesus… the Lamb of God… sacrificed in the place of sinners.

Let’s Pray and then take a look at this significant passage!

In reverence for God’s word, if you are able, please stand as I read our passage.

Gen 22:1-24, but just to first two verses to begin…

vv 1–2 “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

2 Then He said, “Take now 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.””

Praise God for His word. Please be seated.

Gen 21 ended with Abraham staying in the land of the Philistines many days… and Gen 22 opens with “it came to pass after these things”… which infers that many years have passed since Isaac was a child.

And we can narrow down how many years by tracking the life of Sarah.

In Gen 21… Isaac was born when Abraham was 100 years old (according to Gen 21:5)… and Sarah was 90… according to Gen 17:17.

Isaac was weaned in Gen 21:8… when he was likely 2-3 years of age… making Sarah 92-93 years old.

The covenant with Abimelech happened at the same time…according to Gen 21:22…

And Sarah died in Gen 23:1 when she was 127 years old.

So… after Isaac is weaned until the end of Gen 22… accounts for a period of about 34-35 years.

And somewhere during these 34-35 years… “God tested Abraham.”

To test is to prove… to test someone through experience.

One scholar imagined the possibility that Abraham and Sarah’s love for Isaac was growing to danger close surpassing their love for God.

And while God did not want to kill Isaac, He did want Abraham’s complete love… where there were no other loves above his love for God. So God tested Abraham.

Interesting thought.

When we were missionaries in the Philippines I had a similar experience, a similar test… though on a smaller scale.

My kids were hospitalized 5x for respiratory difficulties and pneumonia due to poor air quality in the Philippines.

Dusty roads, cooking fires, poor vehicle emissions, and high humidity made it difficult to breath.

And there was genuine concern for our kids… especially Tim… and a question arose if we should leave the Philippines.

But… I had no clear direction or release from the Lord… so I prayed one of the most difficult prayers of my life asking God for clear direction…

… and vowing to remain faithful to stay if that was His will… even if it meant the life of my son.

Which was no reflection on Tim… it wasn’t as if I thought… “Well, it’s just my youngest son. I have three more kids.”

That wasn’t my thought at all. In fact, this was such a difficult prayer that I didn’t I share this with my wife for years.

I had to double check with her before preaching this sermon to make sure she knew all this… because I didn’t want her hearing this for the first time in this sermon.

Talk about something that would derail you.

But… back to my prayer… graciously God did NOT take my son… and within a few months after that prayer… God redirected us back to the States… all of us.

Sometimes Jesus asks His disciples the hard question, “Do you love me more than these?” As He did to Peter in John 21.

And we all need to consider that question. Is their anything that we love more than Jesus?

For Peter to Shepherd the flock… he had to come to that place of genuine relationship with God and loving Christ in a self-sacrificial… agape way… above all else.

And THIS may very well be the test… God puts to Abraham in this scene. Do you love me more than Isaac?

And so after many years… God breaks the silence, and calls, “Abraham.”

Abraham respond “Here I am.”

I would imagine Abraham was excited in this moment… perhaps thinking, “What promise does God have for me?”

Because if you look back prior to Gen 22… between Genesis Chapters 12-21… overwhelmingly God made promises to Abraham.

There are roughly 37 statements by God to Abraham… between Chapter 12-21

1 statement of Assurance… where God reminded Abraham He is his shield and nothing is too difficult for Him.

2 statements of warning or judgment… where God revealed His thoughts toward sin and wickedness.

3 statements of purpose… where God told Abraham why He chose him.

3 statements of prophecy… God’s revelation of future things for Abraham’s descendants.

5 statements of commands… what God told Abraham to do.

AND 23 statements of Promise or Covenant… what God will do.

So… God made many promises to Abraham and other positive statements…so not a bad thought that Abraham may have anticipated good news…

But all we concretely have is his response, “Here am I.”

And boy is he going to be surprised what God will say to him next… for in V2… God tells Abraham to head north to the land of Moriah and offer his only son Isaac whom he loved… as a burnt offering.

Not the calling you want God to place on your life. Go sacrifice your son.

This was NOT the good news Abraham heard from the past. This was not a promise… this was a command… that no doubt sent Abraham into a whirlwind of thoughts.

This was about a left field as one could expect. There were so many times in the past that God’s dialogue to Abraham was about Isaac.

The promised seed. The anticipated son. The miracle baby.

And now a call to sacrifice him? And burn him as a burnt offering?

I mean… how would you respond?

Would you pretend you had a bad cell signal? “Sorry God… you’re cutting out… let me call you back?”

Notice what we don’t read Abraham say…

He doesn’t say, “But, God...” or “Can you repeat that?” Or, “Can you explain that?”

No, “No, I won’t.”

No, “What will Sarah think? I’ll break her heart.”

We don’t read of a single word from Abraham.

Surely this must have felt like a knife cutting deep. This was the worst command ever from God.

Now… we know this command had the intent to test Abraham. Specifically his faith in God’s promise.

But Abraham doesn’t know this. He just has this far out command… that many people would disobey.

God tells Abraham to travel North three days (according to V4)… from Beersheba to Moriah… which you can see on our map.

We can say with confidence they departed from Beersheba because of our previous context in chapter 21 and because V19 in this chapter has them returning to Beersheba.

Now… the name Moriah means “visible of the LORD” or “Yahweh will see”… maybe “Instruction of God.”

Or as V14 translates, “The LORD Will Provide”…

All of which seem fitting for God’s test in this chapter… and God’s faithfulness.

If you’re familiar with Israel’s Geography, then you recognize the location of Moriah as what would become the later location of Jerusalem.

And there’s an interesting background about this location… a thread woven through some chapters in the Bible about Moriah

Though… Moriah is only mention twice in the Bible.

Here in Gen 22:2, and in 2 Chronicles 3:1 which reads, “Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

So… David was also as Mount Moriah… and it was here that he purchased a threshing floor… a level outdoor area used to thresh sheaves of grain… often located on the top of a rock or hilltop.

And this purchase by David will become a major link tying together Abraham, David, Solomon, the Temple, and ultimately the Messiah.

Here's the progression…

Here in Gen 22… Abraham and Isaac are sent to Mount Moriah… which in Genesis 22:14 the name of that place becomes, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.””

Then in 1 Chr 21… (also in 2 Sam 24) Satan moved David to ‘number (of take a census of) Israel.’

And God commanded in Exo 30:12 that if a census was taken, that each person had to pay the LORD a ransom at the time or there would be a plague.

David sinned and failed to ensure that the people paid the required ransom…so God sent an angel who struck Israel with a plague… killing 70,000 men.

When the LORD told the angel to stop… the angel of the LORD stopped at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And as David pleaded with God… David was commanded to erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David went up to Ornan… and Ornan turned and saw the angel. And David requested to buy the threshing floor from Ornan at full price.

Ornan replied, “Take it…” and I’ll also give you oxen for the sacrifice, wood, and wheat for a grain offering… all for free.

And I love David’s response… 1 Chronicles 21:24 “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.”

Which is a verse a whole sermon could be based on…

For one… it is beautiful when one has a willing heart that desires to sacrifice to the LORD.

Because genuine worship involves personal sacrifice. Is it really an offering if it costs nothing.

Two… By purchasing it, David established a legal and permanent claim to the property.

But even deeper… this looks to the biblical theme that atonement requires sacrifice and cost… pointing to ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

So, David obeyed and purchased the threshing floor… built an altar… offered burnt offerings and peace offerings… called on the name of the LORD…

And God accepted the offerings… and answered David from heaven sending fire on the altar of burnt offering.

So… next David proclaims in 1 Chronicles 22:1 “This is the house of the Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.””

So, he begins making the plans for building the Temple over Ornan’s Threshing floor… which would be carried out by Solomon…

Which again 2 Chronicles 3:1 states, “Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

So this becomes a sacred location…

NOW whether or not Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac on the same rock is disputed. Same mountain range… yes… Mount Moriah… exact rock… uncertain.

Whether this threshing floor… or Dome of the Rock… was the exact spot as Gen 22… the Bible does not clearly say.

That is a claim that rests on tradition. Many scholars think it is plausible… but we cannot be absolutely certain.

Though many believe it is. In Israel today… on the Temple Mount… is what is called the “Dome of the Rock.”

This is an Islamic Shrine built around 691-692 A.D. thought to commemorate an Islamic holy site.

Inside the Dome is an exposed rock that Jewish tradition holds as the Foundation Stone which they hold as the traditional site for:

Abraham's near-sacrifice of Isaac… where a beloved son is offered… and God provides a substitute sacrifice.

The site of David’s altar.… where judgment is halted by sacrifice.

And the location of the Holy of Holies for the first and second Temples… where continual sacrifices were offered for sin.

And who does all of this point to? Jesus Christ… the final and sufficient sacrifice for Sin… who was nailed to the cross in the same general area… but just outside the city walls of Jerusalem.

So.. this chain of events foreshadows redemption.

An beloved only Son was foreshadowed to be sacrificed.

Sin brought judgment. A sacrifice was required.

The sacrifice was offered on purchased ground.

God's wrath was turned away.

All of which anticipates Christ… the beloved Son who was sacrificed paying the price for sin by His own blood… which satisfied God’s wrath on sin.

And through faith in Christ… we are redeemed back to God.

This is a deeply significant and symbolic chapter and geographical location.

Mount Moriah is a powerful symbol of God’s provision… as Genesis 22:14 declares it’s name to mean, “The-Lord-Will-Provide.”

Which ultimately was fulfilled in God’s provision of Jesus Christ.

Which going back to Gen 22:2… we see this allusion even with God’s words to Abraham… “Take now your son, your only son Isaac…”

Your only son is viewed as a type or allusion to God giving His only Son… whom you love…

At Jesus’ baptism in Luke 3:22 “… a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son...’

In one of the most famous verses of the Bible… John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”

Abraham had no idea that what would happen in these days ahead would serve as such a rich typology of God provide that lamb… His only and loved Son…

Abraham only knew of the command… and He handles it in quiet obedience.

No disobeying or questioning… just quiet obedience as we see next in…

V3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Would this be our response? Receiving the most difficult… off the wall test by God… to sacrifice one’s only and beloved son… the miracle child of promise…

Before he was ever married… before he ever had a child…

Abraham no doubt thought to himself, “How on earth will a nation as numerable as the stars come from this child if I sacrifice him before he has children?”

“Will God now provide me another son… even after I and Sarah are now over 100 years old?”

“I know… if I kill him… God will have to raise him from the dead!”

And somewhere along the way of either preparing for this journey… or travelling 3 days North… that’s exactly where Abraham landed.

And we know this because Hebrews 11:19 states of Abraham “… concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead...”

There was a conflict between God’s promises and His command, but instead of disobeying God… or running from God (like Jonah)…

Abraham reasoned God’s promises cannot fail… SO… God will have to do the impossible…

Abraham concluded that God would raise Isaac from the dead… to fulfill His promises of innumerable descendants… and the ultimate descendant… the Messiah Jesus.

Because God’s not a liar… and He said,

“In Isaac your seed shall be called.” (Gen 21:12)

“… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:3)… pointing to Jesus Christ.

As confirmed in Galatians 3:16 “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”

And while Abraham deeply loved his son… his duty to God was deeper.

And this is clear by this passages silence about Abraham’s thoughts… and

And so… in V3… we see Abraham’s faith in action as he prepares to depart to Mount Moriah.

Abraham doesn’t delay in his obedience to God… V3 states he rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey…

This is immediate obedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Spurgeon wrote, “Genuine faith in God creates a prompt obedience. “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed.” [referencing Heb 11:8 and referring to the original calling to leave his homeland]. There was an immediate response to the command. Delayed obedience is disobedience. I wish some Christians, who put off duty, would remember this. Continued delay of duty is a continuous sin. If I do not obey the divine command, I sin; and every moment that I continue in that condition, I repeat the sin. This is a serious matter.”

And Spurgeon shares of the cycle of refusal… disobedience… guilt and then allowing the conscience becoming callous to the subject…

And this cycle persists… UNTIL I obey.

James 4:17 declares, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

David proclaimed in Psalm 119:60 “I made haste [I hurried], and did not delay To keep Your commandments.”

Because delayed obedience is disobedience.

But for Abraham… he obeyed God promptly… the next morning…

We don’t read of Abraham making excuses or telling God of how busy his day was… that he has deadlines… and commitments.

He saddled his donkey… assigned two male servants to join them as they traveled (so a group of four total)…

And he split wood for the burnt offering… and off they went on a three day journey north.

vv4-5 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.”

From Beersheba to Moriah is about a 57 mile journey… about 21 hours of walking… which is why V4 states “on the third day.”

On the third day, Abraham saw the destination where God was leading Him.

God said in V2 to go to the land of Moriah… “to one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

“Tell you” means “to utter or say”… so in some way God indicates to Abraham… that’s the place.

I feel privileged to have had several moments in my life where a voice spoke to me… not audibly… but clearly… and briefly… instructing me on the way I should go.

A voice that was gentle but firm. A voice that needed not to say many words. A voice I did not recognize as my own… and that I clearly attribute to the still small voice of God.

Not everyone has had this experience… thus I humbly take this as a privilege that the divine would speak into my life and guide me in His way and His will.

Interesting to read Abraham’s faith and confidence in V5…

He tells his servants to remain… that he and Isaac would go ahead to worship…

And this was true worship… for worship means “to bow down”… as in “to bow down to God’s will”… which communicates humble submission and reverence.

This is not the same as worshipping in church service… where we worship in song, word, and fellowship…

Worship is when we surrender.

Worship in the context of Gen 22… is obedience to God’s will… despite suffering, confusion, or even disagreement.

And Abraham was probably feeling all of that, but in His obedience and willingness to sacrifice Isaac… he demonstrates worship as he submits to God will.

If you submit to God’s will… and obey… that’s worship.

When you life is a “living sacrifice” as in Rom 12:1… that’s worship.

When Jesus said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours be done.”

And then went to the cross… that was worship.

So, as we view worship in Gen 22… this is worship expressed through surrender and obedience.

Abraham bows himself beneath God's will—even when God's will likely brought tremendous suffering and confusion.

But notice… Abraham also had hope and faith… stating WE will come back to you.

Before they departed… we didn’t read that Abraham shared God’s command with Sarah or Isaac.

Maybe because that was a matter between him and God. Maybe to not burden them.

Maybe because, as we read in Heb 11:19… Abraham was convinced that even if he did sacrifice Isaac, that God would raise him from the dead.

Which is further confirmed in V5 where Abraham tells his servants “we will come back to you.”

Isaac and I will return. We are going up to worship God… as sacrifice is an act of worship… but in faith… Abraham had confidence that both he and Isaac would return… for God does not break His promises.

vv6-7 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

Now… we don’t know Isaac’s exact age in Gen 22, but he’s old enough to carry a sufficient amount of wood for a burnt offering.

Which was likely a bundle of wood about 30-60 lbs… so he’s not a little boy. Most scholars think of him as a young man in his late teens to early twenties.

In V5 Abraham refers to Isaac as a “lad” which can be translated as “boy, youth, or young man.”

Some Jewish traditions put him at 37 years old, but that really pushes the timeline.

Josephus wrote that the belief of the Jews in his day placed Isaac at 25 years old.

But he’s old enough to bear the weight of the wood for the sacrifice… and mentally astute enough to notice the key element missing for the burnt offering… which was the lamb.

I wonder if he began to put things together in his mind that ‘Dad’s acting a little funny… and there’s no lamb… maybe he would be the sacrifice?’

If he hadn’t figured it out by now… he surely will in V9 when Abraham binds him and lays him on the altar.

Now… before moving on to that verse… I want to point out that scattered throughout this account are references that should draw your attention to Christ… for Isaac in this account stands as a type of Christ.

Both were beloved and only sons… who faced sacrifice.

Their sacrifice was commanded by Father God.

Abraham was willing to give up his son. God actually gave His Son

Isaac being in his prime and Abraham being old… Isaac could have resisted his father, but willingly submitted… as Jesus willingly submitted to the Father’s will.

Here in V6… Isaac carried the wood for his own sacrifice, and Jesus carried the wood of His cross.

Abraham and Isaac journeyed to the place of sacrifice together as we read in V6. God the Father and His sons were united in the plan of redemption.

Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb?" Abraham replied, “God will provide for Himself the lamb.” And Jesus became the Lamb of God.

Isaac was placed on the altar. Jesus was placed on the cross.

Lastly, Isaac was figuratively received back from death (Heb. 11:19). Jesus literally rose from the dead.

And so… if you’ve been stirred thus far… seeing similarities to Christ… that’s a keen observation… and you are right to note such parallels.

So… Isaac travels to the place of sacrifice… carrying the wood… noticing and questioning the missing lamb…

V8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

I like how King James renders this verse, “God will provide Himself a lamb.”

Which prophetically pointed to Jesus…

And surely God would… Jesus Christ… the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

… As John the Baptist proclaimed in John 1:29.

We’ve read the term “burnt offering” a couple times… and this was the complete incineration of an animal on an altar… where none was eaten by the priests… but fully given to God.

In Heb it lit. means to “go up in smoke.”

The smoke reflecting ascending to God as a soothing aroma.

I know when steak or brisket is cooking… soothed is how I feel as well… so that makes sense.

And the burnt offering symbolized total consecration… a full surrender to God… as the sacrifice was entirely consumed on the altar.

Paul drew on this symbolism in Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Not to earn salvation, but because through faith in Christ we were gifted salvation.

And in that our allegiance to God should be total and complete.

Interesting that we are reading about Abraham’s faith on trial…

And for us James wrote this about our faith on trial…

James 1:2–4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Our lives are to be fully given to God… and trials of faith produce this in us. Paul tells us let patience do it’s work…

So our lives will be perfect… complete… lacking nothing… we will grow into spiritual maturity… produces a life increasingly surrendered to God.

vv9-10 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

As mentioned earlier… if Isaac didn’t realize that he was the sacrifice earlier… surely he realized it now.

And though he was much younger than Abraham, no doubt stronger as a young man in his prime… and Abraham over 100 years of age.

And so it would appear that Isaac is not a passive victim in this scene, but a willing participant… and in this Isaac also demonstrates his faith in this scene.

Constable notes that, “Josephus recorded a supposed conversation between Abraham and Isaac at this point, in which Abraham explained to his son what he was about to do and why, and in which Isaac verbalized his willingness to die.”

In Jewish tradition… this is a huge theological moment…

They title Gen 22 “The Akedah” (Hebrew for “binding”)… and they connect the binding of Isaac to Israel’s entire redemptive history.

Some wonder if Isaac needed to be bound because he was resisting.

But binding an animal, was a normal and formal procedure for sacrificial systems. I don’t get the sense Isaac was resisting.

And as Abraham raises the knife… with full intention to strike… God intervenes… for Abraham’s faith was proved.

vv11-12 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

And so here we see faith tested… and faith approved in one of the most dramatic and intense scenes of all the bible.

I’m sure God’s intervention to stop Abraham… calling out to him from heaven… caused a HUGE sigh of relief for both Abraham and Isaac.

God tested Abraham… Abraham’s faith was observable and proven. Which become a major theme in the New Testament… for faith.

Not the faith we have when we first believe in Jesus Christ… which results in our justification… our legal position of being declared righteous from the penalty of sin.

But the faith we have for the rest of our lives after that moment.

And this is a faith that should be observable by works. Just as Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac was an observable work.

But, the sacrifice of Isaac did not justify Abraham…

Abraham was justified many years earlier.

In Gen 15, God formally made a covenant with Abraham… and Genesis 15:6 reads, “And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Which Paul later used at the basis for Abraham’s justification by faith, not by works.

… writing in Romans 4:3 “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.””

And Paul argued that if you’re trying to work to earn salvation… that’s not receiving the gift of God.

Work yields a wage one earns and deserves. But, salvation is a gift.

So… what we observe here in Gen 22… is NOT Abraham working to earn salvation. But working because he has salvation.

Abraham’s faith in God… in Gen 15 accounted him as righteous. That was roughly 30-45 years prior to Gen 22… when Abraham was about 85 years old.

Now in Gen 22 Abraham does this work of being willing to sacrifice Isaac… because he is already is saved… because he has faith.

And that’s the intention of James mentioning this account of Abraham and Isaac in… James 2:21-24 “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture [Gen 15:6] was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

James wrote about justification before man. Paul wrote about justification before God.

James is referring to a faith that is maturing… and becomes observable to other people. It’s not a private and quiet faith… it’s an evident faith.

To be justified by works… refers to this mature element in our christian walk… where our works testify of our faith.

Which is seen in James 2:18 “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Works testify of saving faith. Constable wrote, “[Works] are the external fruit that bears witness to the eternal life within.”

And Abraham’s faith in this scene is a faith seen in action.

It’s one of the events that landed him in the hall of faith…

As Heb 11:17-18 declares, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

So that’s what unfolds before us with Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac here in Gen 22.

Continuing on… God provide a ram.

vv13-14 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

Scholars are not sure why a ram was provided and not a lamb.

Perhaps God's provision for Abraham was a ram… a mature lamb… to be used on that day on Mount Moriah.

Ram’s were more valuable… perhaps pointing to the weight of both Abraham’s obedience and God’s provision.

Maybe as well… to keep the typology clean… for God's ultimate provision centuries later came in Christ… the true Lamb of God.

But the clear theme here is God’s substitution and provision.

God is faithful to His promises. Abraham trusted God that even if he had to raise Isaac from the dead He would to keep His promises (Heb 11:19)…

And thus God provided a substitute for Isaac. Just as He provided a substitute for us… Jesus Christ.

Demonstrating God’s surety in keeping His covenants… and His pattern to redeem mankind by His Son’s sacrifice.

The Lord provided then for Abraham… thus Abraham named this location “The Lord will Provide.”

And God still provides for us today. Praise be to Jesus Christ.

And so… what we’ve seen here is an apex moment that has been building since Gen 12 in His communication to Abraham… and about Isaac.

In Genesis 12 God said, "Go."

And promised in Genesis 13 — "I will give you the land."

And added in Genesis 15 — "Your son will be your heir."

Further stating in Genesis 17 — "Isaac will carry the covenant."

And confirming in Genesis 18 — "Sarah will have a son."

Further in Genesis 21 — "In Isaac shall your seed shall be called." [Not Ishmael]

But now… in Genesis 22 — "Take Isaac... and offer him."

Everything God has been saying to Abraham for decades converges on Isaac in Genesis 22.

God spent years telling Abraham: "I will..."

Then Genesis 22 essentially asks: "Do you believe Me?"

And Abraham is tested in the most confusing and heart wrenching way… to sacrifice Isaac.

But Abraham doesn’t disobey or run… He trusts God… He passes the test… His faith is confirmed.

And next, after Abraham demonstrates that he trusts God with Isaac, God reaffirms the promises:

vv15-19 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

The Angel of the Lord (which some take as Jesus Christ… others as an ordinary angel)… speaks from heaven communicating God’s message:

By Myself I have sworn…

There is no other name higher or more trustworthy to swear or make an oath by… and God knows this.

Hebrews 6:13 confirms, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,”

This is the strongest emphasis God can give that His promise will be accomplished.

And because of Abraham’s faith and devotion to God in not withholding Isaac… a three-fold promise of blessing is given… which is a reiteration of promises formerly given… which no doubt provided great assurance to Abraham:

First, Innumerable descendants: as many as the stars in the sky… or sand on the seashore. Try to count them sometime.

God previously promised this in Gen 13:16, & 15:5.

Second, a great nation would come from Abraham:

As previously promised in Gen 12:2 & 18:18.

And third, the promise of all nations being blessed through Abraham’s Seed… pointing to Jesus Christ.

And previously promised in Gen 12:3 & 18:18.

All of this why… because of the end of V18… where God says to Abraham… “… because you have obeyed My voice.”

Imagine the blessings that God would pour out if EVERY believer obeyed the voice of God… and walked in faith as Abraham walked.

I don’t think the world would look the same… I don’t think our country would look the same… and surely many people’s lives would not look the same.

In V19… Abraham and Isaac returned to the two young men…

And I just imagine them asking, “Did you guys have a great time of worship?”

And with not a word perhaps… Abraham and Isaac lock eyes… and just reply, “Yeah… it was great. A bit intense, but we truly met with God.”

And now with great relief… of Isaac still being alive… of amazing ‘God moments’… and promises and blessings reaffirmed…

Abraham, Isaac and the two servants return back to Beersheba… and I’m sure the trip back home was much less heavy than the trip up.

Now… closing out Chapter 22… in vv 20-24 we have the Genealogy of the Family of Nahor.

Which if this doesn’t minister to your soul… check your pulse…

Because nothing screams encouragement like Nahor’s genealogy.

Full sarcasm implied.

vv20-24 Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash, and Maachah.”

I found it funny that one scholar, before he discussed this genealogy… made sure remind his readers of 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God...”

And so we have the genealogy of Abraham’s brothers family… no better way to close an epic chapter.

And truly what is happening here is the stage is being set for future chapters…

Especially of Isaac who will take Nahor’s daughter Rebekah (mentioned in V23) as his wife in Gen 24.

But wasn’t that his first cousin?

Yes… things were different then.

Read ahead… and Let’s pray!

If you need prayer for anything, we are here to pray with you before you go.

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’”

God bless you as you close out the week ahead!