God Will Provide

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all.

What a sacrifice

Jesus loves sacrifice

Sacrifice OPPOSITE Selfishness

selfishness

experience of world today

Thomas C. Reeves:

Christianity in modern America is, in large part, innocuous. It tends to be easy, upbeat, convenient, and compatible. It does not require self-sacrifice, discipline, humility, an otherworldly outlook, a zeal for souls, [nor] a fear as well as love of God.”

As I think about sacrifice

I think about Jesus

Also:

One story

great sacrifice

other than Jesus

Abraham

He had already:

left Ur (70 yrs old)

lied twice about Sarah

Sodom and Gomorrah

Eliazar (75)

Ishmael (85-6)

finally Isaac (100)

Genesis 22:1–2 ESV

After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.”

Imagine

all those years of wait

all the hardship

finally the son

Now,

God says

kill him!?!

If I were Abraham

I would immediately question...

Is this God?

10 commandments

thou shalt not kill

God said

Your seed

like stars and sand

God said,

this is promised son

How could he die?

Prayed like never prayed before

Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 13—The Test of Faith

Abraham was tempted to believe that he might be under a delusion. In his doubt and anguish he bowed upon the earth, and prayed, as he had never prayed before, for some confirmation of the command if he must perform this terrible duty. He remembered the angels sent to reveal to him God’s purpose to destroy Sodom, and who bore to him the promise of this same son Isaac, and he went to the place where he had several times met the heavenly messengers, hoping to meet them again, and receive some further direction; but none came to his relief. Darkness seemed to shut him in; but the command of God was sounding in his ears, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest.”

He agonizes in prayer

like never before

He looked for excuses

reason why not

Yet, he knew

the voice of God.

Morning was approaching

back in tent

Sees Isaac

parent watches child at night

Sees Sarah

should he wake her?

how to explain...

She would say...

Genesis 22:3 ESV

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.

3 day journey

days of fear

night of prayer

Satan’s confusion

Finally,

Submission...

Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 13—The Test of Faith

This son had been unexpectedly given; and had not He who bestowed the precious gift a right to recall His own?

On the 3rd day

Genesis 22:5 ESV

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.”

Notice his words

Faith:

“and come again to you”

He was convinced,

God was speaking.

He was convinced

Isaac child of promise.

He concluded:

Hebrews 11:19 ESV

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

Finally,

he had to reveal plan

to Isaac.

Genesis 22:7 ESV

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?”

What fear

what pain

what to say???

What faith...

Genesis 22:8 ESV

Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

They get there.

Abraham must explain.

trembling voice

Genesis 22:9 ESV

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.

Isaac could have escaped

willing submission

shared father’s faith

Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 13—The Test of Faith

He tenderly seeks to lighten the father’s grief, and encourages his nerveless hands to bind the cords that confine him to the altar.

Father and son

say good-bye.

Genesis 22:10 ESV

Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

God waits

very last moment

to stop him

Genesis 22:11–12 ESV

But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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.”

Named the place

“Jehovah-jireh,”

“the Lord will provide.”

Great story

great example

Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 13—The Test of Faith

Abraham’s great act of faith stands like a pillar of light, illuminating the pathway of God’s servants in all succeeding ages. Abraham did not seek to excuse himself from doing the will of God.

Now,

I return to

original question

How can we

make sacrifices

get motivated

and love

like this?

This story is poignant

Because

Abraham loves 2 people

Isaac

God

forced to choose

Sacrifice is not

giving up something

don’t like that much

for something better

Giving up something

you love

for something else

you love more!

That is what Jesus did

gave up heaven

for us.