God will Provide - Genesis 22:1-24

Genesis  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  53:48
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1 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) 2 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? 3 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. 4 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 5 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) 6 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 7 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?” 8 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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