Abraham's faith is tested

Abraham’s faith

Gen 15.5

Genesis 15:5 NKJV

Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

Gen 15.6

Genesis 15:6 NKJV

And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Gen 15.7

Genesis 15:7 NKJV

Then He said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it.”

15.8 How can Abraham KOW for sure he will inherit the land?

Genesis 15:8 NKJV

And he said, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?”

God wants us to KNOW for CERTAIN that He KEEPS his promises.

How? - By a Blood Covenant

Gen 15.13

Genesis 15:13 NKJV

Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years.

Was Abraham declared righteous by his works?

Rom 4.1-5

Romans 4:1–5 NKJV

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Hebrew 11.17-19

Hebrews 11:17–19 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Let’s further consider the faith of Abraham

Before we consider Abraham’s faith, Let’s consider our own faith.

Why should we examine our own faith?

God’s testing of our faith is not a matter of IF he tests it, but it is a matter of when he tests it.

Therefore we should TEST our FAITH first - 1 Cor 11.28; 2 Co 13:5

1 Corinthians 11:28 NKJV

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Faith without works is dead!

2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

God Tests us, and Satan desires to tempt us.

Luke 22:31 NKJV

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Luke 22:32 NKJV

But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

We are tested by trials in our life.

When we are tested of God - James 1:2–8

James 1:2–8 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1.2

James 1:2 NKJV

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Count it all joy - Consider - to fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on.

James 1.3

James 1:3 NKJV

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Know it produces patience - endurance

James 1.4

James 1:4 NKJV

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Let patience have its perfect work

James 1.5-8

James 1:5–8 NKJV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Ask for Wisdom - ask in faith - no doubting

How did God test Abraham’s faith?

Genesis 22:1 NKJV

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

Genesis 22:2 NKJV

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.”

How did Abraham respond when he was tested?

He obeyed and did not delay - no discussion

Genesis 22:3 NKJV

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.

Abraham offered up Isaac

Hebrews 11:17 NKJV

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Offered - The perfect tense of the Greek verb prospherō (“offered”)

The perfect tense in Greek is used to describe a completed action which produced results which are still in effect all the way up to the present

indicates that as far as Abraham was concerned the sacrifice was complete. In will and purpose he did offer his son

Genesis 22:4 NKJV

Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.

For three days he patiently waited. Counting it all joy, knowing that God was testing his faith, He was letting patience have its perfect work that he may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. I’m sure he asked and believed God for wisdom.

He held nothing back!

Abraham’s only begotten son

Whom he loved

Who was born by a promise of God

A miracle birth from parents who were as good as dead

Abraham’s obedience was an act of worship to God

Genesis 22:5 NKJV

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.”

Do you see Abraham’s hope in that last statement?

Romans 15:13 NKJV

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What did Abraham see in Isaac?

When Abraham looked at this young lad he saw, through the eyes of faith, his future family. A family which would be innumerable. He was confident of this very fact.

Hebrews 11:18 NKJV

of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

Abraham had made some mental calculations.

God promised Isaac children.

God asked Abraham to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering.

God can not lie.

How can Isaac have children if he is dead?

Resurrection! That was Abraham’s conclusion.

Isaac would live again!

Hebrews 11:19 NKJV

concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

God’s blessings to those who believe.

Romans 4:7–8 NKJV

“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Psalm 103:1-5

Psalm 103:1–5 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.