God will Provide - Genesis 22:1-24

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God will Provide
Gen 22:1-24
20211003
Take the next step because you know God will provide
Introduc)on
We live in an area that is punctuated by mountains. I started ﬂying around this valley
when I was in my late teens and quickly realized just how valuable mountains are for visual
navigaJon. Later on in my military career I did a great deal of ﬂying in Oklahoma, and there we
used huge grain elevators as a reference for visual navigaJon as well as the gridlines of ﬂat
farmlands. This can be done when you are high and looking down because your perspecJve is
such that you can see everything sprawled out before you but this isn’t our typical way of
traversing the planet. Most of the Jme where do we ﬁnd ourselves? ASached to terra ﬁrma. As
such trying to make sense of a tall terrain feature can be very disorienJng. What I mean is when
you are in the wilderness and you purpose to ascend a steep hill or mountain it usually is not
clear as to how you get from where you are standing near the base all the way to the top. This is
because the view is obscured, even aTer hiking or climbing for hours or days, depending on the
size of the mountain, you cannot tell how you are progressing in relaJonship to the summit.
Your duty is to put one foot in front of the other knowing that each step is taking you closer to
the top.
This is very much like what we have been witnessing in the life of Abraham. He has been
steadily moving forward, growing in his faith, even with his setbacks, clear progress has been
made. The quesJon though that sJll remains is this: Will he trust God completely? Well, how
does this get tested? God has a test that is very speciﬁc to Abraham. We will look at it in detail
as we move though the verses of chapter 22. But importantly we need to be asking a very
similar quesJon of ourselves. How do we know if we will trust God completely? I believe the
answer is very much like the ascending of a mountain, especially one that is obscured by
vegetaJon, false summits, or clouds – the answer is you conJnue moving forward in faith.
OTen, it isn’t unJl you look back that you realize the just how far God has moved you along in
your faith, in the sancJﬁcaJon process. When you look back suddenly you see more clearly just
how steep some of the pitches were or how vast the traversed snow ﬁelds. Taking it all in you
cannot help but praise God for his carrying you along and you are encouraged to take the next
step because you know God will provide.
God will provide the test (vv1-6)
1. 1a A)er these things God tested Abraham
I will not recap all that has transpired in the life of Abraham – but it is important to consider
the high points: Called from the land of the Chaldeans (ch 12), Receiving Promises from God
(ch 12, 15 & 17), InteracJng with God and peJJoning him (ch 18), observing the devastaJon
of Sodom and Gomorrah (ch 19), having the promise preserved in the midst of follies (ch 20)

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and then fulﬁlled at the appointed Jme (ch 21). Steadily moving along in his faith and in life.
1a A)er these things God tested Abraham
a. 1b 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.”
i. Abraham hears the voice of the LORD. He is, I am sure, exhilarated to have
God call to him. For now, he has been a worshipper of Yahweh for decades
but this Jme the message makes no sense.
ii. The son of the promise, the only son, the son whom he loves is to be oﬀered
as a human sacriﬁce? We know from v1 that this is a test as the readers. But
Abraham has just received a command to do something he never even
considered as a possibility. How is he to make sense of this? Without a doubt
this had to have put Abraham into a tremendous place of quesJoning.
1. Tests and trials have a way of doing this. Has anyone else been
wrestling with God’s Word, trying to make sense of it in light of what
we see happening all around us during the unprecedented response
to the COVID virus?
a. When we pay close aSenJon, we can clearly see churches are
undergoing a real Jme of tesJng. In Canada pastors are being
jailed for keeping their churches open (James Coates and Artur
Pawlowski). In Moscow Idaho last year ChrisJans were
arrested for singing Psalms in a parking lot because they
violated masking and distancing requirements (Christ Church).
b. Many churches simply don’t assemble (Heb 10:25) others
place requirements on aSendance. Church, I have been so
encouraged by our pursuit of Christ together. EntrusJng one
another to show grace, to show love to fellow disciples of
Christ and for this reason we are being strengthened by one
another.
b. 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.
i. Commentators on this passage state what we all intuiJvely think. No way
Abraham had a peaceful night. No way could any father who has been
informed that they are going to not only lose their child, let alone be the
cause for their loss, have any semblance of peace. What is Abraham to do?

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We will get to this later on in the message – but what we see here is that
Abraham is taking the next step because he knows God will provide.
ii. I do want to draw out something that really struck me though here in verse 3.
Well two things.
1. First, Abraham knew the voice of the LORD. He knew this was a
command from God so I return to what is oTen said that we need to
be people of God’s word for that is how He speaks – through the
Bible.
2. Second, in addiJon to the pracJcal need of having the two young men
along – Abraham being well over 100 – is the fact that he has to
divulge some of the plan. What I’m gejng at is the added beneﬁt of
having accountability while going through a severe trial. Do not keep
to yourself brother, do not keep to yourself sister, the burden of your
tesJng or your trial! Let it be known to those whom you are in
fellowship with so that you can be cared for and encouraged – so you
can be ministered to.
3. For here Abraham would have to let the young men know something
of his intenJons. They are now acJng as witnesses as to whether or
not he is going to succeed in carrying out his intended worship for the
wood for the burnt oﬀering was gathered. No mistaking what they
were sejng out for.
iii. 4 On the third day Abraham li)ed 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 (HB ﬁrst person plural) to
you.”
1. An agonizing journey. Three days of travel to get to Moriah. I’m
guessing, but a lump must have been present in Abraham’s throat
conJnually. To look at his son must have brought forth tears. No
joking or casual conversaJon but a somber procession. Taking one
step at a )me not knowing how but trus)ng God would provide.
2. Even looking at the language reveals that this faith is either overtly
present or at least being subconsciously processed. For it is recorded
in the ﬁrst-person plural that is “we will return” aTer we worship. Not
knowing how but trusJng God to make provision.
iv. 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.

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1. The imagery, the imagery is unmistakable. The son is carrying the
wood – it is being placed upon him, foreshadowing a future Son –
Jesus who John says “he went out, bearing his own cross” Jn 19:17
2. This is also showing us the partnership and mutual work that is going
to be required between father and son to carry out what God has
commanded of Abraham. Abraham being well north of 100 and Isaac
being likely a strong teenager capable of carrying enough wood to
oﬀer up a whole burnt oﬀering on a stone altar.

Transi)on: And so they go. Father and son with all the elements needed for the oﬀering as
speciﬁed by God. How absolutely straining it must have been to labor onward and yet one foot
was placed in front of the other trusJng God would provide. This is how tesJng is, God provided
the test but he also strengthens his chosen ones in their faith.
God will strengthen your faith (vv7-12)
2. 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?”
a. Oh how this must have landed with tremendous force. What is he to say to his son?
Isaac clearly sees what is missing! One foot in front of the other taking steps of faith
trusJng God will provide.
i. 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt oﬀering,
my son.” So they went both of them together.
1. Here I must ask of parents and youth is this how you would interact
together over a clearly challenging situaJon?
a. First, parents do your kids know your faith in God to this level
that should you give an answer that God will provide that your
child would trust you as you trust God? This is your God given
duty to train up your children in the way of godliness and yet I
know that is much easier said than done.
b. Second, young ones in the home. Do you respect your parents
as God’s word commands – showing them honor? Many of
you are memorizing “Honor your father and your mother, that
your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is
giving you.” Ex 20:12

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c. For what we see here is clearly and example of a young man
who has witnessed his father’s faith, has heard the prayers,
has parJcipated in worship, has heard the tesJmonies, and so
when his father says – this doesn’t look right but I trust God
will provide – they went on, both together. Taking steps of
faith as father and son.
ii. 9 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.
1. Here it is church. On the mount of Moriah the very place believed to
be the future site of the temple (2 Ch 3:1) where millions of sacriﬁcial
animals would one day be slaughtered.
2. Now, instead of a lamb or a bull, it is the son of the promise. A strong
young man capable of carrying the wood up to the place. So, what
does this mean? I think it means that somewhere in here either
through words or simply submijng to the father’s hands he
understood, and he is bound, he submits to the will of his father, who
is submijng to his Heavenly Father. The intenJon is clear, he is to be
the one oﬀered up as an act of worship. Taking steps of faith as father
and son.
iii. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his
son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said,
“Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 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.”
1. This was the culminaJon of the test. What was God aTer? Why this
test? To test the genuineness of Abraham’s faith. This is the very
pinnacle of Abraham’s faith as highlighted in Scripture and gives us a
tremendous understanding of what God wants from us. He wants our
complete and uSer obedience to him – but he also wants to show his
people that what he could not let Abraham do, and in fact what he
would never ask anyone to do is something He himself would do for
us.
Transi)on: God provided Abraham with the strength for the most stringent test he ever faced,
the willingness to not withhold anything from him. He strengthened his faith. And Abraham
gave himself over to a complete surrender to trusJng God and so we see what happens next.
God will provide the sacriﬁce (vv13-24)

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3. 13 And Abraham li)ed up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in
a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and oﬀered it up as a burnt
oﬀering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will
provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”
a. All along we were hearing from Abraham that he believed God would provide. He
said to his young men that he and the boy would return aTer worshiping. IndicaJng
that God would provide. When Isaac asked him where the lamb was which was to be
oﬀered he said the Lord would provide. When the binding was placed upon his son
and the knife was being reached for the ﬁrm belief was that the Lord would provide.
i. We look at this and say in our compassion for human life this just isn’t right.
God could not be doing this but we learn more about the faith of Abraham in
Heb 11:17-19.
ii. A belief is gained by this test of resurrecJon from the dead! What a
tremendous place to go for Abraham. He knows that God cannot, that God
will not break his promise, so he reasons that God would bring him back from
the dead – once again foreshadowing a Son who is given as a sacriﬁce who
really was resurrected – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
iii. So now – from this place of worship, aTer this display of faith Abraham is
aﬃrmed in his posiJon, he is assured of the promises and the oath is
strengthened.
b. 15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second Qme from heaven 16 and
said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and
have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely
mulQply your oﬀspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore.
And your oﬀspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18 and in your oﬀspring
shall all the naQons of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
i. Here God takes an oath and swears by himself! Heb 6:13-20
c. 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to
Beersheba. And Abraham lived at Beersheba.
i. The humbling impact of this encounter must have made for a real strange
encounter with the young men. What do you say aTer such a thing? How do
you explain it? I would think it would have been tremendously formaJve for
the faith of Isaac and Abraham but when do you start sharing the story? I
don’t know. It is the high point of Abraham’s faith and the last Jme we have
recorded in Scripture that God speaks to him, to his chosen and called out
servant, but we have this postscript that sJll points forward. v23

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1. 20 Now a)er these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah
also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his ﬁrstborn, Buz
his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash,
Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight
Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine,
whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.
2. For just as we read in Hebrews that it is impossible for God to lie a
plan to bring forth the promised oﬀspring, the one who was
foreshadowed in Isaac would need to come from his line. And his wife
is being introduced to us here at the end of the chapter. Steps of faith
are sJll needed to be walked out – just as they are for us.
Conclusion
This chapter unfolds, just as the book of Genesis is unfolding revealing a perspecJve –
revealing a heavenly perspecJve, God’s plan. This is like what I menJoned in the opening, ﬂying
above the earth to get perspecJve, it takes a passage like this to show us how God has provided
the perfect sacriﬁce to make a way for us to be in right relaJonship with him. Providing his only
son, known as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:36), whom he loved, providing his Son to die for us. God,
being the Father that oﬀered up and carried through in sacriﬁcing his very own Son and who
raised him up again aTer three days.
Church, this passage elicits so much. When you study Gen 22 you are oTen leT in a state
of bewilderment at the extreme nature of the test – the test looms so large. Don’t rush past
that but rather grab ahold of the extreme nature of the test and carry it forward in your study of
the rest of God’s word. Carry it forward in light of trials and tests you may be facing.
James 1:12-13 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he
has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love
him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be
tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”
Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you rejoice, though now for a li[le while, if necessary,
you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more
precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by ﬁre—may be found to result in praise and
glory and honor at the revelaQon of Jesus Christ.”
This is the perspecJve we must keep when trials come believer, for they will come, that
the tested genuineness of your faith would be well founded in the Father’s plan:
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he
not also with him graciously give us all things?”

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Graciously he gives us exactly what is needed, providing perfectly that which is needed
to walk by faith. Whenever you are in doubt as to how you will endure your trial, your hardship,
your test hang onto the truth so gloriously revealed in Genesis 22 and take the next step
because you know God will provide.


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