Gen 22:1-2, 6-14
SS Lesson for 12/18/2011
Devotional Scripture: 2 Cor 9:8-11
The outline of the lesson came from a previous SS Lesson dated 07/18/1999. The lesson examines how God's Provides. The study's aim is to learn that faith involves trusting that God knows what He is doing. The study's application is to understand that God will not call us to do something that ultimately contradicts His revealed will.
Test for the Best
A bright student of mine recently applied for admission into a rigorous graduate-school program. There was no doubt in my mind that this student was capable of excelling in this program. He possessed extraordinary intellectual power, he was a strong leader on campus, and he was respected by his peers. So we were all taken aback when this student received a rather cold letter from the academic dean of the graduate school asking him to rethink whether he truly wanted to be admitted. The letter further required him to write an additional essay in order to convince the admittance committee that he was the kind of student they could accept. As they looked over the student’s records, they apparently saw a considerable gap between his potential and his production. Though the student’s experiences were impressive and his references solid, his academic marks were not nearly as high as they should have been given his ability. The admittance committee thus put him to the test. They knew that he could succeed in their program, but they wanted more—they wanted him to excel. They wanted him to bring his best self to their program. The student could have been put off by this test. He could have been insulted by their request and applied his money and energies elsewhere, but he didn’t. Instead he wrote a solid response that confessed his lack of effort in the past and committed to excelling in his academic future should they give him that opportunity. When executed properly and with the right motive, tests bring out our best. In today’s passage God puts Abraham to the test, and Abraham’s performance is exemplary for us all.
Lesson Background: The Issue of Faith
Abraham’s faith journey began well. He (as Abram) obeyed God’s call to pack his bags and head into the unknown. Though he and his wife were well advanced in years, Abraham trusted that God would somehow make them into a great nation—a nation through which all nations would be blessed. But Abraham’s journey was not easy, and his faith showed fault lines at multiple points. Twice Abraham tried to save his own skin by passing his wife off as his sister—once to the Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 12) and once to the king of Gerar (Genesis 20). Abraham tried to engineer the fulfillment of God’s promise of offspring by fathering a child through his wife’s handmaid, Hagar (Genesis 16). Some students think that the decision to bring along Lot, the son of Abraham’s deceased brother, was Abraham’s attempt to ensure offspring in a legal sense. These mistakes blew up in Abraham’s face. Even so, God did not forsake him. Instead, God gently taught Abraham the lessons he needed to learn along the way. But did Abraham truly learn from these lessons, or did Abraham merely harden his heart? Since God had kept his promise of providing Abraham with a son through his aged wife, Sarah (Genesis 21:1-7), would Abraham trust God in an ultimate test?
Lesson Background: An Issue of Names
In our previous two lessons, God’s chosen patriarch was called by his birth name, Abram. Today he is referred to as Abraham. God had made a covenant with Abram in Genesis 17, and that covenant involved changing his name. Thus Abram, which means “exalted father,” became Abraham, which means “father of a multitude.” Similarly, his wife Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah. Both Sarah and Sarai mean “princess.” So the change was only a matter of pronunciation. However, the change was still significant. It meant for both Abraham and Sarah that God was beginning a new phase in their lives. They were turning a corner together as God gifted them with the child of promise, whose name was Isaac.
The concept of sacrifice is not unique to biblical religion. Some form of sacrifice is a part of virtually all religions, both past and present. Sacrifices may involve the offering of animals or grain. Pilgrimages to sacred sites or other works may be seen as forms of sacrifice. Human sacrifice has also been practiced and was even adopted by some in ancient Israel (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6; 23:10); the Mosaic law, however, sternly forbade it (Deut. 18:10). Christians are also called upon to make spiritual sacrifices (Rom. 12:1; Heb. 13:15-16). But Christianity is unique in that God has made one final sacrifice on our behalf, for "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb. 10:10). As we approach the celebration of the nativity, our attention turns to that event. Christ, however, was born to die. Interestingly, theologians both ancient and modern have often viewed the offering of Isaac as a type of the sacrifice of Christ. Abraham waited for years for God to fulfill His promise to give him a son who would be his heir. But after God gave him the promised son, Isaac, He suddenly instructed Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering. Abraham's greatest test of faith was before him. This lesson explores Abraham's greatest test, but it might make modern believers nervous. How could God ask Abraham to offer his son as a burnt offering when such an act is contrary to God's very character? How could God give Abraham a son and then ask him to give his son back? On a level more frightening to us, what might God ask us to do today? What we will discover is that although God might test us, He will not betray us. We can trust Him.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
2 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."
Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates.
God does not preserve believers from difficult circumstances, but he tests both the righteous and the wicked. For some, God's tests become a refining fire, while for others, they become an incinerator for destruction. Don't ignore or defy the tests and challenges that come your way. Use them as opportunities for you to grow.
22 But Samuel replied: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." 32"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
19 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"
8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.
6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
The Scriptures do not indicate that there was any further conversation between the distraught father and the unsuspecting son. Under the circumstances it is not likely that Abraham felt much like talking. Finally they arrived at the designated place of sacrifice. Abraham then gathered up some large stones and built an altar — something he had done many times in the past. Next he laid out the wood upon the altar. Finally he bound his son Isaac and laid him … on top of the wood. During the process of being tied up, Isaac certainly must have realized what was about to happen. He was a young man in his physical prime and certainly could have resisted his father had he so desired, yet he humbly submitted to what was happening. This says a great deal about young Isaac’s faith — both in his father and in God.
32 And so the Levites carried out their responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting, for the Holy Place and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the temple of the Lord. 24:1These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron:The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
Biblical worship and service was highly structured, but this did not hinder the Spirit of God. Rather, it provided an orderly context for worship. Sometimes we feel that planning and structure are unspiritual activities that may hinder spontaneity in worship. But order and structure can free us to respond to God. Order brings glory to God as we experience the joy, freedom, and calm that come when we have wisely prepared in advance.
40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat--for he grants sleep to those he loves.
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
37 The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. "Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you."
9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
God's intervention—so dramatic and instructive—showed that He never had intended Abraham to go through with the sacrifice (child sacrifice was not to be practiced in Israel) but that it indeed was a test. The Angel of the LORD (cf. comments on 16:7) stopped Abraham just as the patriarch took in his hand the knife to slay Isaac! Now God knew that Abraham would hold nothing back and that he did in fact fear God. To fear God means to reverence Him as sovereign, trust Him implicitly, and obey Him without question. A true worshiper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide. The key idea of the entire passage is summarized in the name Abraham gave to the place: the LORD will provide (or, "see"; v. 14). The explanation is, On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided (or, "seen," v. 14; cf. v. 8). This is the basis of a truth often repeated in the Old Testament: the Lord was to be worshiped in His holy mountain by the nation. "Three times a year all the men [of Israel] are to appear before the Sovereign LORD" to worship Him, bringing their offerings and sacrifices (Ex. 23:17; cf. Deut. 16:16). The Lord would see the needs of those who came before Him, and would meet their needs. Thus in providing for them He would be "seen."
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, "I cannot watch the boy die." And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. 17God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them." 36The LORD will judge his people and have compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.
13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided."
15 wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--
Abraham faced moments of decision, and so will we. Such a moment may be a lucrative job offer that can compromise our ability to keep faith commitments. It may be a chance to advance ourselves at the expense of others. It may be starting a friendship for short-term happiness that we know will bring long-term trouble. Whether through money, prestige, or relationship, it is God’s good pleasure to test our faith. We must remain alert to the significance of such moments of decision. Abraham’s story ends happily. He passes the test, receives God’s blessing, and becomes a model to us all. Yet not all such stories end happily. In the moment of decision, some decide to lean on their own strength and understanding—people like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30) and the 10 fearful spies (Numbers 13:26-32). Such moments of testing are helpful indicators of where we truly are in our faith. Abraham had been growing in his faith for years. That growth began with his decision to pack everything and head to the unknown. It was tested on a smaller scale with famine and local conflicts. Sometimes Abraham passed, other times he slipped up, but he never allowed his mistakes to consume him. Likewise, we do not pass our faith tests by cramming overnight the day before the exam. We pass because God has matured our faith through countless acts of faithfulness along life’s journey.
It is the inherent response of every parent to protect his or her child. You drive down the street and stop more quickly than you intended at the light, so you instinctively put out your hand to guard your child sitting next to you in the front seat. Such parental protection is normal. We loathe parents who hurt their children or foolishly fail to protect them. This week's text gets to the heart of the issue of obedience for believers. It also evokes the deepest fear of a parent. Last week's lesson highlighted Abraham's faith. He unequivocally accepted God's declaration that he would be the father of multitudes. You know the rest. He tried to "help God out" by having a child with his concubine Hagar. Perhaps he thought God was not speaking literally when He made the promise. Surely God knew Sarah was barren. Maybe He meant that Abraham's descendants would come through Abraham but not Sarah. Is it not interesting the way we try to "help" God? God did not intend Abraham's future line to come through Hagar. Sarah was to be the mother of the chosen people. In time, the birth of Isaac happened exactly as God had promised. Sarah was a nurturing mother; Abraham was an ecstatic father. It must have been horrific, then, when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son. How do we explain Abraham's actions? How did he overcome his paternal instinct to protect his son? The author of Hebrews described Abraham's faith in this way: "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure" (11:17-19). Abraham believed God was able even to resurrect Isaac if he sacrificed him. However, can you imagine the feelings that coursed through Abraham as he raised that knife? Did he dare look in his son's eyes? Most of us would like to be known as a person of faith like Abraham, but when tested, we fail miserably. Abraham had no special "faith genes." He received no divine numbing of his emotions and desires. He simply responded in faith. A woman approached a famous pianist and effused, "Oh, I would give my life to play the piano like that!" "I did," replied the pianist humbly and honestly. The life of faith is seen in action. Read the great stories in the Faith Hall of Fame (Heb. 11), and notice the actions that backed up the attitudes. God's command to Abraham regarding Isaac was a test; He never intended Abraham to go through with it. God will not ask you to take a knife to your child, but He may ask you to sacrifice that son or daughter to service on the mission field. You will never be asked to lay your offspring on the altar, but perhaps God wants you to put your wallet or your job or your pride there. He also desires every part of your body to be a living sacrifice to Him (Rom. 12:1). Your eyes need to be placed on the altar, along with your hands, feet, and tongue. Amazingly, our bodies work so much better once they have been devoted to the Master for His service.
1. God tests us to prove our faith, but He never tempts us to do evil (Gen. 22:1-2;cf.Jas. 1:13)
2. Full and quick obedience is the proper response to God's clear direction (Gen. 22:6)
3. Faith trusts God to provide even when we cannot see how He will provide (vs. 7-8)
4. True faith holds nothing back from God (vs. 9-10)
5. God intervenes at the right time and in the right way to vindicate His people and His own character (vs. 11-12)
6. God provides what we need when we need it (vs. 13-14)
Abraham's faith in God was rewarded when his son Isaac was born, according to God's promise, twenty-five years after Abraham entered the land to which God had directed him (Gen. 21:1-3).
Some years after Isaac's birth, Abraham's faith was severely challenged. Verse 1 says, "God did tempt Abraham." The word rendered "tempt" carries the idea of a test, not a solicitation to evil (cf. Jas. 1:13). The Lord told Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac to the land of Mori-ah and offer him there as a burnt sacrifice to God. While this command is startling, we must remember that this was a test of Abraham and that God ultimately prevented the killing of Isaac.
Abraham responded by leaving for the land of Moriah early in the morning. He had learned that God's commands were to be followed and trusted, even when he did not understand them. Isaac, who was probably a teenager by this time, dutifully assisted his father. Leaving the servants behind, Abraham and Isaac ascended Mount Moriah with the wood, the fire, and the knife that would be needed for the sacrifice. As they approached the place of sacrifice, Isaac asked the obvious question: Where was the lamb (Gen. 22:7)? Abraham's answer expressed amazing faith: "God will provide himself a lamb" (vs. 8). Earlier, Abraham had told his servants that he and the boy would return (Gen. 22:5). The New Testament tells us that this reveals Abraham's complete faith in God's promise to fulfill the covenant through Isaac: he was certain that God would either spare Isaac or raise him to life (Heb. 11:17-19). Abraham trusted God to do what was just and right. His promises are sure, even when we cannot see how they can be kept. So Abraham proceeded in preparation to carry out God's puzzling command. Finally, with no word from God and no sacrifice yet provided, Abraham raised the knife to kill his son. It is hard to contemplate Abraham's thoughts at this point. God's command was clear, but what God asked of His servant was the most difficult thing imaginable.
As Abraham was about to plunge the knife into his son, the Angel of the Lord—probably a reference to the Lord Himself—spoke to him and told him not to lay a hand on Isaac. The Lord explained, "Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." God was not testing Abraham to see whether he would be faithful to Him; God already knew this. Rather, this trial was needed to develop Abraham's faith further. It was now evident that his faith in God was unquestioning. God prevented the sacrifice of Isaac and then provided a sacrifice Himself: "a ram caught in a thicket" (Gen. 22:13). Abraham rejoiced in the Lord's provision and named that place "Jehovah-jireh" (vs. 14), meaning "the Lord sees, or provides." Abraham had faith that God would provide a sacrifice (vs. 8), and God had done just that (vs. 14). Faith in God is always rewarded, for He is the, one who sees and provides for all, those who trust in Him.