Abraham 10

The Greatest Test of All

An inscription on a cathedral clock reads:

When, as a child, I laughed and wept,

Time crept.

When, as a youth, I dreamed and talked,

Time walked.

When I became a full-grown man,

Time ran.

And later, as I older grew,

Time flew.

Soon I shall find, while traveling on,

Time gone.

At the age of 75, Abraham enrolled in the “School of Faith.”

Now he was over 100, and he was still having soul-stretching experiences. We are never too old to face new challenges, fight new battles, and learn new truths.

When we stop learning, we stop growing; and when we stop growing, we stop living.

“The first forty years of life give us the text,” wrote Arthur Schopenhauer, “and the next thirty supply the commentary.”

For the Christian believer, the text is

Habakkuk 2:4 AV

4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The “commentary” is being written as we listen to God and obey His directions a day at a time.

Sad to say, some people understand neither the text nor the commentary, and their lives are ended before they have really started to live.

Genesis 22 records the greatest test that Abraham ever faced.

True, it also presents a beautiful picture of our Lord’s sacrifice at Calvary; but the main lesson is obedient faith that overcomes in the trials of life.

Abraham teaches us how to face and handle the tests of life to the glory of God.

Consider five simple instructions.

1. Expect tests from God

Genesis 22:1–2 AV

1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

In the “School of Faith” we must have occasional tests, or we will never know where we are spiritually.

Abraham had his share of tests right from the beginning.

First was the “family test,” when he had to leave his loved ones and step out by faith to go to a new land (11:27–12:5).

This was followed by the “famine test,” which Abraham failed because he doubted God and went down to Egypt for help (12:10–13:4).

Once back in the land, Abraham passed the “fellowship test” when he gave Lot first choice in using the pastureland (13:5–18).

He also passed the “fight test” when he defeated the kings (14:1–16) and the “fortune test” when he said no to Sodom’s wealth (14:17–24).

But he failed the “fatherhood test” when Sarah got impatient with God and suggested that Abraham have a child by Hagar (Gen. 16).

When the time came to send Ishmael away, Abraham passed the “farewell test” even though it broke his heart (21:14–21).

Not every difficult experience in life is necessarily a personal test from God. (Of course, any experience could become a test or a temptation, depending on how we deal with it.

Sometimes our own disobedience causes the pain or disappointment, as when Abraham went to Egypt and to Gerar.

Sometimes our hurts are simply a part of normal human life:

As we grow older, friends and loved ones relocate or even die, life changes around us, and we must make painful adjustments.

Learn to distinguish between trials and temptations.

Temptations come from our desires within us (James 1:12–16) while trials come from the Lord who has a special purpose to fulfill.

Temptations are used by the devil to bring out the worst in us, but trials are used by the Holy Spirit to bring out the best in us (1:1–6).

Temptations seem logical while trials seem very unreasonable.

Why would God give Abraham a son and then ask Abraham to kill him?

All believers face similar temptations to sin, but not all believers experience the same trials of faith.

God’s testings are tailor-made for each child of God, and each experience is unique.

God never asked Lot to face the tests that Abraham faced.

Why?

Because Lot was being tempted by the world and the flesh and never grew to the place of maturity that Abraham reached.

In one sense, it is a compliment when God sends us a test; it shows God wants to “promote us” in the “School of Faith.”

God never sends a test until He knows you are ready for it.

“Life is difficult,” wrote psychiatrist M. Scott Peck. “Once we truly know that life is difficult—once we truly understand and accept it—then life is no longer difficult” (The Road Less Traveled, p. 15).

That is the first lesson we must learn:

Expect trials from God, because the Christian life is not easy.

2. Focus on promises, not explanations

Genesis 22:3–5 AV

3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

Our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems impossible.

Whether you look at Joseph in prison, Moses and Israel at the Red Sea, David in the cave, or Jesus at Calvary, the lesson is the same:

We live by promises, not by explanations.

Consider how unreasonable God’s request was.

Isaac was Abraham’s only son, and the future of the covenant rested in him. Isaac was a miracle child, the gift of God to Abraham and Sarah in response to their faith.

Abraham and Sarah loved Isaac very much and had built their whole future around him.

When God asked Abraham to offer his son, He was testing Abraham’s faith, hope, and love; and it looked like God was wiping out everything Abraham and Sarah had lived for.

When God sends a trial to us, our first response is usually, “Why, Lord?” and then, “Why me?”

Right away, we want God to give us explanations.

Of course, we know that God has reasons for sending tests—perhaps to purify our faith, or perfect our character, or even to protect us from sin —but we fail to see how these things apply to us.

The fact that we ask our Father for explanations suggests that we may not know ourselves as we should or God as we should.

Abraham heard God’s word and immediately obeyed it by faith. He knew that God’s will never contradicts God’s promise, so he held on to the promise “in Isaac shall thy seed be called”.

Abraham believed that even if God allowed him to slay his son, He could raise Isaac from the dead.

Hebrews 11:17–19 AV

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Faith does not demand explanations; faith rests on promises.

Abraham told the two servants, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Gen. 22:5).

Because he believed God, Abraham had no intentions of bringing back a corpse!

3. Depend on God’s provision

Genesis 22:6–14 AV

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Two statements reveal the emphasis of this passage:

“God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:8); and “Jehovah-jireh” (22:14), which means, “The Lord will see to it,” that is, “The Lord will provide.”

As he climbed Mount Moriah with his son, Abraham was confident that God would meet every need.

On what could Abraham depend?

He certainly could not depend on his feelings, for there must have been terrible pain within as he contemplated slaying his son on the altar.

He loved his only son, but he also loved his God and wanted to obey Him.

Nor could Abraham depend on other people.

Sarah was at home, and the two servants who accompanied him were back at the camp.

We thank God for friends and family members who can help us carry our burdens, but there are some trials in life that we must face alone.

It is only then that we can see what our Father really can do for us!

Abraham could depend on the promise and provision of the Lord.

He had already experienced the resurrection power of God in his own body, so he knew that God could raise Isaac from the dead if that was His plan.

Apparently no resurrections had taken place before that time, so Abraham was exercising great faith in God.

God did provide the sacrifice that was needed, and a ram took Isaac’s place on the altar

Abraham discovered a new name for God—“Jehovah-jireh”—which can be translated “The Lord will see to it” or “The Lord will be seen.”

Where does the Lord provide our needs?

In the place of His assignment.

Abraham was at the right place, so God could meet his needs.

We have no right to expect the provision of God if we are not in the will of God.

When does God meet our needs?

Just when we have the need and not a minute before.

When you bring your requests to the throne of grace, God answers with mercy and grace “in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Sometimes it looks like God waits until the last minute to send help, but that is only from our human point of view. God is never late.

How does God provide for us?

In ways that are usually quite natural.

God did not send an angel with a sacrifice; He simply allowed a ram to get caught in a bush at a time when Abraham needed it and in a place where Abraham could get his hands on it.

All Abraham needed was one animal, so God did not send a whole flock of sheep.

To whom does God give His provision?

To those who trust Him and obey His instructions.

When we are doing the will of God, we have the right to expect the provision of God.

God is not obligated to bless my ideas or projects, but He is obligated to support His work if it is done in His way.

Why does God provide our every need?

For the great glory of His name!

“Hallowed be Thy name” is the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), and it governs all the other requests.

4. Look forward to what God has for you

Genesis 22:15–24 AV

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; 21 Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

There is always an “afterward” to the tests of life, because God never wastes suffering.

Job 23:10 AV

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Abraham received several blessings from God because of his obedient faith.

To begin with, he received a new approval from God

Abraham had described this whole difficult experience as “worship” (22:5) because, to him, that is what it was.

He obeyed God’s will and sought to please God’s heart, and God commended him.

It is worth it to go through trials if, at the end, the Father can say to us, “Well done!”

He received back a new son.

Isaac and Abraham had been at the altar together, and Isaac was now a “living sacrifice”

God gave Isaac to Abraham, and Abraham gave Isaac back to God.

We must be careful that God’s gifts do not take the place of the Giver.

God gave Abraham new assurances

He had heard these promises before, but now they took on fresh new meaning.

Charles Spurgeon used to say that the promises of God never shine brighter than in the furnace of affliction.

What two men did on a lonely altar would one day bring blessing to the whole world!

Abraham also learned a new name for God

As we have seen, Jehovah-jireh means “the Lord will be seen” or “the Lord will see to it [provide].”

The Jewish temple was built on Mount Moriah; and during our Lord’s earthly ministry, He was seen there.

He was the true Lamb of God, provided by God to die for the sins of the world.

When he arrived back home, Abraham heard another new name—Rebekah —the girl God was saving for Isaac.

The roll call of the names of Abraham’s brother’s family could have discouraged a man with only one son, but Abraham did not fret.

After all, he had God’s promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore!

Finally, Abraham came away from this trial with a deeper love for the Lord. Jesus tells us about this deeper love in John 14:21–24, and Paul prays about it in Ephesians 3:14–21. Have you experienced it?