God's Unrealistic Expectations
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Series Review
Series Review
This is a difficult passage. It’s hard to read and make a direct application.
I like the way my Old Testament professor introduced his lecture when he talked about this. He shared from his own parenting experiences. One day he was walking around the house and he noticed a crumpled piece of paper on the floor (that’s not an uncommon thing to see.) He flattened it out and noticed his 8 year old son’s handwriting. He written some sort of essay that covered both sides of the paper, so he read it. What he read left him deeply disturbed. In the essay his son has written a narrative about so many things he hated: He hated the seminary where his father was teaching, he hated the president of the seminary. He hated the house they had moved to. He hated his room. He hated the neighborhood where they lived. So much hatred. So much bitterness. His dad was stunned. His kid seems so happy. This new job, this new situation was great for the family. He showed the letter to his wife, they were both stunned. Finally, he confronted his son. His son takes the letter, reads it and says, “Oh yeah. I wrote that for ‘Opposite Day’ at school. Don’t you remember the day where I wore my shirt and hat backwards, but you made me where my pants the right way? I had to write an essay describing the opposite of what I feel.”
It was a funny story, but for a while the father was stunned, he didn’t know how to respond, he was scared. Nothing in the letter made sense, no matter how hard he tried.
That’s how I imagine Abraham. This request comes out of nowhere. It is bizarre. Sickening, really.
Sermon Introduction
Sermon Introduction
God’s command was not totally unheard of. Abraham lived during a time where societies would use child sacrifice as a way of appeasing their gods, to ask for victory, to celebrate a fruitful harvest. This would not be the first time Abraham had heard of a child sacrifice. Just not from God. And we learn throughout the scriptures that God destroyed entire nations because of this evil practice.
I like the way my Old Testament professor introduced his lecture when he talked about this. He shared from his own parenting experiences. One day he was walking around the house and he noticed a crumpled piece of paper on the floor (that’s not an uncommon thing to see.) He flattened it out and noticed his 8 year old son’s handwriting. He written some sort of essay that covered both sides of the paper, so he read it. What he read left him deeply disturbed. In the essay his son has written a narrative about so many things he hated: He hated the seminary where his father was teaching, he hated the president of the seminary. He hated the house they had moved to. He hated his room. He hated the neighborhood where they lived. So much hatred. So much bitterness. His dad was stunned. His kid seems so happy. This new job, this new situation was great for the family. He showed the letter to his wife, they were both stunned. Finally, he confronted his son. His son takes the letter, reads it and says, “Oh yeah. I wrote that for ‘Opposite Day’ at school. Don’t you remember the day where I wore my shirt and hat backwards, but you made me where my pants the right way? I had to write an essay describing the opposite of what I feel.”
It was a funny story, but for a while the father was stunned, he didn’t know how to respond, he was scared. Nothing in the letter made sense, no matter how hard he tried.
That’s how I imagine Abraham. This request comes out of nowhere. It is bizarre. Sickening, really.
God’s command was not totally unheard of. Abraham lived during a time where societies would use child sacrifice as a way of appeasing their gods, to ask for victory, to celebrate a fruitful harvest. This would not be the first time Abraham had heard of a child sacrifice. Just not from God. And we learn throughout the scriptures that God destroyed entire nations because of this evil practice.
But this was also a time where God seemed to be contradicting himself. Remember, God was going to make Abraham a father of many nations. Finally, at the age of 100 God gives him 1 son, and now God is commanding him to kill that one son? This command doesn’t make sense on any level. At least not to Abraham.
But the author of the story wants to make something clear to us: This was not a command that Abraham was intended to carry out: it was a test.
Testing is God’s way of helping us grow.
Testing is God’s way of helping us grow.
How do we know we are growing in knowledge in a certain subject area? Tests and quizzes.
How do we know our bodies are becoming stronger? test your strength (rehab)
How do we know we can trust someone? Have you ever tested someone’s loyalty?
test is for our benefit, not just someone else’s
Testing is God’s way of helping us grow.
Testing is God’s way of helping us grow.
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
discipline - not negative, reactionary, but positive; relational; constantly present (compare with parenting) I can stare at a television and yell at the kids because they aren’t playing well together, or I can go play with them and show them / talk with them about relationships
discipline - not negative, reactionary, but positive; relational; constantly present (compare with parenting) I can stare at a television and yell at the kids because they aren’t playing well together, or I can go play with them and show them / talk with them about relationships
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
It helps us understand the story when we see this as a test - God never intended for Abraham to follow through. It doesn’t resolve all of our discomfort when reading the story. If you look at the artwork, they never try to water down the story - we see pictures of Abraham with a rather large knife ready to kill his son.
Ever meet an “only child?” What kinds of things do we associate with an only child? Spoiled. Coddled? Center of attention. Maybe, but from my experience as a pastor this affects parental strategy.
When I was a youth pastor I talked with a youth who was really angry at their parents. Mom and dad were so controlling; allowing no freedom. Strict rules. After talking with mom and dad I could see that, but I also learned that they had lost another son in a car accident, so understandably they felt very protective of their remaining child. I wonder if Abraham was like that? I imagine him that way - Isaac is not just an only child, but God’s only way of fulfilling his promise. This was hard test.
God tests believers. It’s for our benefit. Part of that reason is to shake us up from our apathy (predecessor, sermon preached 10 years ago: lawnmower sermon; pastor: I had to shake them up, it was like preaching to the dead)
God’s tests are for our benefit:
How do we know we are growing in knowledge in a certain subject area? Tests and quizzes.
How do we know if we are growing in our faith?
How do we know we are growing in knowledge in a certain subject area? Tests and quizzes.
How do we know our bodies are becoming stronger? test your strength (rehab)
How do we know we can trust someone? Have you ever tested someone’s loyalty?
How do we know if we are growing in our faith? Tests.
Tests are also relational: they remind us that God is with us. Sorta like parenting: I can stare at a television and yell at the kids because they aren’t playing well together, or I can go play with them and show them / talk with them about relationships.
discipline - not negative, reactionary, but positive; relational; constantly present (compare with parenting) I can stare at a television and yell at the kids because they aren’t playing well together, or I can go play with them and show them / talk with them about relationships
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.
God tests our faith.
God tests our faith.
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
Abraham’s actions are consistent with his profession. He says to the servants, stay here. Me and Isaac are going to worship, and we’ll be right back. Isaac asks, where is the sacrifice? Abraham answers: God will provide it.
I’m looking forward to our church wide study coming up in a couple of weeks: Christian Atheist - Believing in God, but living as if he doesn’t exist. I’m preaching a series, and I’m inviting all of you to read the book and join small group as we learn about what it means when we use 2 words that contradict one another.
Listen to some of the titles, and tell me if any of these make you feel uncomfortable: Believing in God, but won’t forgive. Believing in God, but don’t think you can change. Believing in God but still worry. Believing in God but pursuing happiness at any cost. Believing in God but trusting more in money. I’m not sure about you, but I can relate to a few of those.
One of the key confessional statements we make as a church is: “Jesus is Lord.” Not just Jesus is boss, but the world was created through Jesus. Jesus was God in the flesh. Jesus was victorious over the grave. Jesus sits at the right hand of God and will come again for a final victory. We say these things when we are baptized or join a church.
Think about that statement - Jesus is Lord - and all of its implications. If Jesus is Lord, shouldn’t that make a difference in our time, money and priorities. Do we live our lives as if Jesus is standing right beside us (because He is!)?
Presence makes a difference. (college, demonstrating Kirby vacuum cleaners. Training supervisor, “I’m from Greensboro NC, his enthusiasm rose as he began to talk about all of the things he liked about my home town: Bar hopping. Strip clubs. He began talking about some of his adventures in NC. Then he asked, “So what are you studying in college?” I could hear the tapes rewinding. We sat in silence for what seemed to be an hour. He realized the identify of his companion and he made different decisions. The words he used. The stories he told. I learned about what church his grandmother went to and how he was raised Catholic. (hard for single clergy to date)
We are tested every day! Every decision we make is a test. We can look back at our decisions and say, when I made that decision, did I take into account that the Son of the most high God was present.
Back to Abraham. Abraham believes....God knows God has called him to bless the world through his many descendants. He only has one son and God has told him to give up that one.
Ever meet an “only child?” When I was a youth pastor I talked with a youth who was really angry at their parents. Mom and dad were so controlling; allowing no freedom. Strict rules. After talking with mom and dad I could see that, but I also learned that they had lost another son in a car accident, so understandably they felt very protective of their remaining child. I wonder if Abraham was like that?
When he takes this journey with his son and an armload of wood for a sacrifice, all he’s doing is acting according to his beliefs.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVII Abraham’s Trial: A Lesson for Believers (No. 2,223)
When I hear of one saying that he has received “a straight tip” from God, I feel that a man capable of speaking in such a manner was never spoken to by the Infinite Jehovah. Communion with God bows a man to the dust, and causes him to use lowly and reverent language. No; God never comes near to us, and then leaves us in a frame of mind in which we could speak flippantly or irreverently of him.
God tests our fear.
God tests our fear.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVII Abraham’s Trial: A Lesson for Believers (No. 2,223)
When I hear of one saying that he has received “a straight tip” from God, I feel that a man capable of speaking in such a manner was never spoken to by the Infinite Jehovah. Communion with God bows a man to the dust, and causes him to use lowly and reverent language. No; God never comes near to us, and then leaves us in a frame of mind in which we could speak flippantly or irreverently of him. When I hear professing Christians arraigning God’s conduct, and setting up to criticize God’s Word, I stand in doubt of them. O sirs, God’s true children tremble at his Word; they never question him!
Golfers struck by lightning: if the almighty wants to play through…not even God can hit a 1-iron
I’m not sure how often we think about fearing God. 2 extremes: Reverence, like grandpaw at a family reunion - no one eats until he gets at the table, when he talks, we respectfully listen. The other extreme is so afraid of God that he becomes like an intimidating parent that we date not question.
Even worse: Casual attitude towards God. We look at people in the Bible who encounter God - or Christ - in all his glory, their first response - they fall to their faces. They are afraid. They realize they don’t belong there. God is holy and they are not.
Casual attitude towards God. First response when people encounter the presence of God - they fall to their faces. They are afraid. They realize they don’t belong there. God is holy and they are not.
Drown out the voice of god with.....
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVII Abraham’s Trial: A Lesson for Believers (No. 2,223)
When I hear of one saying that he has received “a straight tip” from God, I feel that a man capable of speaking in such a manner was never spoken to by the Infinite Jehovah. Communion with God bows a man to the dust, and causes him to use lowly and reverent language. No; God never comes near to us, and then leaves us in a frame of mind in which we could speak flippantly or irreverently of him.
Abraham, like any sensible person, is scared, horrified at what God is asking him to do, but he fears God, so he’s even more fearful of what will happen if he doesn’t do it. Fear and faith go together.
Afraid of what god is calling me to do, not afraid of what will happen if we do not.
s
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVII Abraham’s Trial: A Lesson for Believers (No. 2,223)
If we say, “No, I cannot do that; I am afraid of the consequences,” that shows that we do not fear God enough; for the man who fears God fears nothing else. The path of duty made clear, he says, “I must do it, cost what it may; for it would be infinitely more costly not to do it.” His fear of God ejects all fear of men, and all fear of consequences; it is the backbone of all real holiness, and all true godliness. And God tries us to see whether we have this holy awe of him, and leads us to follow in the steps of Abraham his friend.
We worry more about the cost of obedience than we do the cost of disobedience.
Conviction: God brings life from death.
Conviction: God brings life from death.
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
s
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
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By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
s
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXXVII Abraham’s Trial: A Lesson for Believers (No. 2,223)
The trial was terrible; but still Abraham believed. Possibly, he did not understand the trial; he did not want to understand. He believed, and he took God at his word, and he would do what God bade him do, whatever that might be, and he would leave the Lord to extricate him out of any difficulties into which his obedience might bring him. Thus God tried his faith.
We need convictions to pass the test. What is Abraham’s conviction?
We need convictions to pass the test.
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Genesis
Abraham had a history with God: life out of dead bodies (see Romans) Not, “What have you done for me lately.”
He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
We have a history with God. We may not realize it. We might forget it. Remember that time when God forgave you - you experienced it. Remember that time you experienced a miracle - healing, encountering a stranger, hearing the call of God while on a retreat. (I don’t have a dramatic conversion story that captivates and entertains. I don’t have story where I was lifted from the pit of despair, a story of drug addiction or gang violence. I just grew up Baptist.
Abraham’s history: life out of dead bodies (see Romans) Not, “What have you done for me lately.” I look at some of my broken relationships, and I do it with regret. I think back to the beginning, when there was warmth. Open communication. Trust. Compassion. And somewhere things went wrong. “What have you done for me lately.” Nothing good.
God’s capacity for relationships far exceeds ours. We have a history with God. We may not realize it. We might forget it. Remember that time when God forgave you - you experienced it. Remember that time you experienced a miracle - healing, encountering a stranger, hearing the call of God while on a retreat. (I don’t have a dramatic conversion story that captivates and entertains. I don’t have story where I was lifted from the pit of despair, a story of drug addiction or gang violence. I just grew up Baptist.
For me, it was a sermon.How many sermons do you remember? I’m always impressed when I am appointed to a church and someone tells me, “I’ll never forget a sermon that your predecessor preached.” If you ever come up to me and say, “Pastor Corey, I’ll never forget the sermon you preached on...” I may not know what you’re talking about, but I’ll be impressed. At my last appointment they all talked about a sermon that was preached ten years ago. (lawnmower, had to wake them up, like preaching to the dead; trustees remembered because of the stains on the carpet)
Do you ever remember a sermon that reached you not because of dramatics, not just in a personal, but in a supernatural way? God spoke to you through the preaching of His Word. For me, it was “the Jesus who stops for one.” I was at the Creation Festival. (dark time for me; God angry, even hated me. I had struggled with depression, tried medication. I could close my eyes and imagine Jesus, in a huge busy crowd, stopping and focusing his attention on me in my darkness.)
I don’t have an exciting conversion story, but it is very real. I was living in death darkness, but Jesus brought life out of that death and darkness.
That’s my conviction. Jesus brings life out of death. If we believe that, we can pass any test that comes our way.
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
God will see to it.
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
situation, discuss, argue, “god will see to it” - not dismissive, but realizing we’ve discussed this to death, we ‘ve looked at the situation from every angle, we’ve cried, we’ve yelled, but we’re stopping and realizing that God sees this - God is aware and God will see to our needs.