Genesis 22 – Are You Willing To Make The Sacrifice?

God tested Abraham. He said, “Abraham!” Abraham answered, “Here I am.” Notice that this scripture does not say that God tempted Abraham, but that He tested Abraham. James 1:13 says that God does not tempt anyone. Has God ever tested you? Did you pass the test? Do you answer God as quickly as Abraham did? God told Abraham to take his only son Isaac, whom he loved, to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering on the mountain that He chose. Why is Isaac referred to as Abraham’s only son, when we know Ishmael is the older son? Well, Isaac is the Son of Promise (Sarah’s son) and Ishmael is the son of “helping God out” (Genesis 16) (Hagar’s son).

Abraham gets up early the next morning, saddles his donkey and takes Isaac and two young male servants with him. He also split the wood for the burnt offering. What? No questions asked! Just complete obedience! Are you willing to make the sacrifice like Abraham did? On the third day of the journey, Abraham saw the place in the distance. He told the young men to stay there with the donkey. He and Isaac will go worship and come back. This is truly an example of walking by faith. Abraham knew that the plan was to sacrifice Isaac. Yet he told the servants, “we will come back to you.”

Abraham had Isaac carry the wood for the burnt offering. Isaac carried the wood up the mountain to be used in the sacrifice of his life, similar to Jesus being forced to carry the wood (cross) up the mountain on which He would be sacrificed. Abraham took the flint to start the fire and the knife in his hand. Then off they went. Isaac noticed that they had everything but the lamb to sacrifice. He questioned Abraham and Abraham’s response was that God would provide the lamb. I’ve heard that Isaac wasn’t a little boy, but was actually close to 40 years old when this happened. Whatever his age, Isaac knew a very important item was missing for the burnt offering, namely the sacrificial lamb. Obviously, Abraham didn’t tell Isaac about God’s plan before time. I wonder if Abraham told Sarah that he was going to sacrifice their son born to them in their old age. When they arrived at the place where God told Abraham, he built an altar and placed the wood in order. He bound Isaac and laid him on the altar upon the wood. I wonder how this scene played out since the Bible doesn’t say anything about Abraham having to knock Isaac out to bind him. Did Isaac respect his father so much, that he willingly allowed Abraham to bind him? Was Isaac’s faith that strong in his earthly father as well as in his Heavenly Father that he believed that God would provide a sacrificial lamb? Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay Isaac. I wonder what they both are thinking now? Again, are you willing to make the sacrifice? When you’ve waited so long for the promises of God to be manifested in your life and now God is saying give it back to Him or walk away from it, would you willingly do so?

An Angel of the Lord called Abraham’s name from heaven and he answered, “Here I am.” Abraham was told not to kill Isaac. Abraham passed the test since he feared God (that is to reverence Him) and was willing to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham looked and behind him was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. He took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of Isaac. He named the place The-Lord-Will-Provide (meaning God sees to it beforehand). Thereafter, the saying “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided” was established.

The Angel of the Lord called out of heaven again to Abraham and swore by Himself (meaning He was under complete obligation), that He will bless him mightily, and the promise of many descendants was restated. Abraham’s descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky (Genesis 15) and the sand on the seashore (similar to to the dust of the earth in Genesis 13). His descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. In Abraham’s seed, all the nations of the earth will be blessed because of his obedience. Will your descendants be blessed because of your obedience to God?

Abraham (and Isaac) returned to the servants and they journeyed to Beersheba where he lived.

Abraham was informed that his brother, Nahor, had children by Milcah. His firstborn was Huz. They also had Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram) Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph and Bethuel. Bethuel is Rebekah’s father. We will see this significance as we continue our Biblical journey. Milcah bore these eight to Nahor. Nahor’s concubine, Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Thahash and Maachah to him.

Our next stop is Genesis 23.

To God Be The Glory!

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