Abraham and Isaac

Recap the series

Throughout this series we have looked at many stories

This has been a somewhat weird and awkward summer maybe we don t remeber everything we have been through

There is a reason we go through these stories

Sometimes we hold onto the somewhat fairytale like stories we read

We often think oh yea I know how this story goes

But we miss the importance

This is all one book in many parts all pointing to one thing

The purpose is to outline God’s divine salvation story for his people

When we read these stories we should be careful to put the characters in the right spots

Put God in the right spot

This is what we hope you have gotten out of this series

That God is the greatest and sometimes uses fallible men to glorify his name

There is a narrative of salvation of God’s people throughout all of these stories

God’s mercy is displayed throughout these stories

Man is called to be obedient and faithful to God

A God who uses those who are faithful to him as well as those who arent

Finish the series with this story

This is probably not a story you heard very often in sunday school

This is a pretty heavy story with profound implication for us

Tonight we will look at the story of Abraham and Isaac

Read Genesis 22:1-8

While you look for it have any of you ever been asked a question or been told something that just made your heart sink

I remember when I had heard that my friend had died

Carl on that cold February morning

These are moments that you dont forget

Abraham had a moment like this

English Standard Version Chapter 22

22 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 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.” 3 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. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 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.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 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?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

Abraham has just been commanded by God to sacrifice his only son

No way he felt ok with that

But let me remind you of who Abraham is and what he has in his past

Abraham is introduce to us early in the book of Genesis when God calls him out of his home to go to a place that God will show him

Abraham obeys and goes

Soon after that he winds up in Egypt and lies about who his wife is to perserve his life

Abraham doesnt trust God

Later Abraham sleeps with his servant because he thinks sarai his wife is to old

Again doubting the promise of God

Abraham again winds up sojourning in a place called Gerar and wants sarai to pretend to be his sister agin

Again not trusting God

Finally Abraham has a son born to him through sarai his wife and they name him Isaac

Abraham sees God’s faithfulness

This is the point where we enter the story

With all this behind him we see God test him

Do you think that God didnt know the outcome?

Why would God test him

To show Abraham what was in his heart

Which is faithfulness to God

What we see here is a story of incredible faith in God

And incredible faithfulness of God

Abraham has been promised by God that he would make a great nation

Read Genesis 15:1-6

English Standard Version Chapter 15

15 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

How would this promise be fulfilled without Isaac?

Abraham had to have faith a serious faith that god would be faithful

a faith that had been developed through all the other times of doubting

Abraham was having revealed to him his own faith see verse 5 and verse 8

abraham didn’t know how but he was sure god would come through

English Standard Version Chapter 11

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

and what do we see God come through

he delivers Isaac and then reiterates his covenant with him