Isaac: God Provides

1. How does the context inform the meaning of this passage? Please consider: a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage), b) the historical context (circumstances of the audience), and c) the biblical context (citations/allusions or historical connections to other books that the author is making).

LITERARY

HISTORICAL

BIBLICAL

2. How has the author organized this passage? Please a) show the structure in sections with verse references and b) explain what strategies you used to see this structure.

v. 1-2 - The Tension of God’s Request

v. 3-8 - The Faith in Abraham’s Response

v. 9-14 - The Timely Provision of God

v. 15- 19 - The Long Shadow of God’s Provision

3. Drawing on your work to this point, state the author’s aim for his audience (in one short sentence).

God provides so that Isaac (and Israel) may live

4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?

Redemptive/Historical Progression

Preaching Christ from Genesis: Foundations for Expository Sermons Redemptive-Historical Progression

This narrative relates that the LORD provides a ram as a substitute offering so that Isaac/Israel may live. Later, when Israel was enslaved in Egypt, the LORD saved their firstborn sons by means of the blood of a one-year-old ram: the passover lamb. Still later, when Israel was in the Promised Land, they offered burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings at the tabernacle/temple in order to pay the penalty for sin (death) so they could live. In the fullness of time, the LORD provides his Son Jesus as a substitute offering so that his people may live. John the Baptizer introduces Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus himself proclaims that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Preaching Christ from Genesis: Foundations for Expository Sermons Redemptive-Historical Progression

Redemptive-Historical Progression

This narrative relates that the LORD provides a ram as a substitute offering so that Isaac/Israel may live. Later, when Israel was enslaved in Egypt, the LORD saved their firstborn sons by means of the blood of a one-year-old ram: the passover lamb. Still later, when Israel was in the Promised Land, they offered burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings at the tabernacle/temple in order to pay the penalty for sin (death) so they could live. In the fullness of time, the LORD provides his Son Jesus as a substitute offering so that his people may live. John the Baptizer introduces Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus himself proclaims that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Analogy -

Preaching Christ from Genesis: Foundations for Expository Sermons Analogy

As God through this narrative assured Israel that their faithful covenant LORD can be trusted to provide for their redemption, so Jesus assures his followers that their faithful covenant LORD can be trusted to provide for their redemption.

5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?

Preaching Christ from Genesis: Foundations for Expository Sermons Analogy

As God through this narrative assured Israel that their faithful covenant LORD can be trusted to provide for their redemption, so Jesus assures his followers that their faithful covenant LORD can be trusted to provide for their redemption.

6. What is your sermon title and your preaching outline?

TITLE - Isaac: God’s Desire to Provide

OUTLINE:

A Desperate Need for God to Provide [v.1-2]

A Deep Hope that God would Provide [v.3-8]

A Display that God Provides [v.9-14]

A Greater Provision of God [v.15-19]

Illustration

Main Theme/Idea

Context

BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL CONTEXT - We have seen some wonderfully rich theological themes emerge from our study of Abraham’s

Promise - Whereby God promises to save/redeem…to make right all that went wrong in the Garden and subsequently throughout human history!

Covenant - I have said previously that the idea of covenant is the skeletal structure one which God carries out his promises and is realized in the covenant of grace when he sends his Son Jesus to hang on a tree, be buried and beat death through his resurrection!

Atonement - what we see in God’s call to sacrifice Isaac is the demand that a covenant costs something. God’s holiness and character demands restitution.

LITERARY MOVEMENT

Literary movement from chap 12 - 22 is from God’s initial Promise to Abram escalating toward the summit of his covenant with Abram and now descending (Landing) on the provision of his promises through atonement.

It’s one thing to talk about God’s promises, it’s a wholly other thing to know that we are desperate for what he provides.

We have a Desperate Need for God to Provide [v.1-2]

One of the greatest challenges to embracing the Promises of God is our awareness of our constant need for God to provide that which he promises

Explanation of v.1-2 [READ]

We are immediately thrust into an uncomfortable reality our text.

We must Ground our Hope in God’s Provision [v.3-8]

We must Embrace God’s Provision [v.9-14]

We must Rest in the Long Shadow of God’s Provision [v.15-19]

Isaac: God Provides

SERMON MANUSCRIPT -

Introduction/Illustration

Sermon Outline