Genesis chapter 22
Now I Know
Week #2
 9.21.2014 – First UMC St. Cloud
(NIV) Genesis 22 − 1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then
God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
3 Early
the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and
his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told
him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his
servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will
come back to you.”
6 Abraham
took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the
fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, 7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham,
“Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
8 Abraham
answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of
them went on together.
9 When
they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the
wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his
hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven,
“Abraham! Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
12 “Do
not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God,
because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
13 Abraham
looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the
ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will
Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”
15 The
angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear by myself,
declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will
surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the
seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring
all nations on earth will be blessed] because you have obeyed me.”
19 Then
Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in
Beersheba.
Now I Know
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Introduction: The Depth of Our Faith
1. Now, we have probably one of the most difficult stories on the Scriptures. Like
the flood last week, Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son, his only son,
Isaac, seems so out of character for the God we know in Jesus the Christ.
truthfully, many have seen in this some sort of maniacal and evil God at work.
Last week we said, though, that "Any solution must take the text seriously, but
be willing to see the text in ways the original author and audience may have
seen it." So what would the original audience have heard in the account of
Abraham and Isaac? To begin with, despite our deep and understandable
abhorrence of this request, the work that Abraham inhabited would have
seen the gods providing children and thus the gods being within their rights to
demand children as sacrifces.
a. The story, when all is said and done, is not really about child sacrifice. God
never intends to allow Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Later, God, in stark
contrast and opposition the other cults surrounding the people of Israel,
strictly forbids child sacrifices. Yet, this is not what the text is really getting
at.
2. This text must also be seen in the larger story of Abraham's growing
relationship with God. Even as Abraham has at times risked his whole life to
follow God, while at other times he has been less than honorable in his
dealing with God, none the less, God has remained faithful to Abraham.
3. The text is very clear about God's purpose in commanding Abraham to
sacrifice Isaac - to discover the extent to which Abraham fears or trusts God.
The “Big Idea” – God tests us at times to determine the depth of our faith and our
commitment to some important task.
A. In the Balance
To begin with, Abraham understands that God's command to sacrifice Isaac
places the whole of God's covenant or promise to bless him with a family and
with land in the balance with his intimate relationship with God.
1. To fully understand this story, we need to understand what hangs in the
balance for Abraham. Listen to God's words to Abraham in (NIV) Genesis
12.1-3 − 1The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people
and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
Now I Know
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2 “I
will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Isaac, his son, is the connection and the fulfillment of this covenant. There is no
future for Abraham without Isaac. We are reminded of that in the repetition of
the reference to Isaac as "son" throughout the text.
2. With the birth of Isaac, even as Abraham and Sarah are very old, Abraham
now seems very secure in living under God's covenant promise. We see this in
(NIV) Genesis 21.33 − 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and
there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. Abraham
designating God as El Olam ( ), "the Enduring God", indicates the stability,
security and permanence that Abraham now feels in the covenant (promise)
and in his relationship to God. Yet, all that changes in (NIV) Genesis 22.1-2 −
1Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then
God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go
to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I
will show you.”
3. God is testing the quality of Abraham's faith. It is also clear that what is being
tested, here Abraham's faith, is being tested to its fullest limit. We, the readers,
know this is a test. We know that God does not intend to follow through with
this command; Abraham and Isaac do not.
4. For Abraham, his security and comfort and his idea of a good future are at
stake; are in the balance. God has asked Abraham to put all this in jeopardy.
Yet, the test is also very real for God. Remember, this is "the Story": God
intends to bless all of humanity through Abraham. Jesus, the Christ, the Savior,
will be born into Abraham's family. Abraham's faith in God is essential if God is
to move into the future with Abraham. So, in one sense, God's particular
future with Abraham hangs in the balance.
a. This is not a test to develop Abraham's faith, though undoubtedly this will
strengthen his faith. The text does indicate that now Abraham trust more
in God or has learned some great lesson.
5. This test will confirm whether Abraham will follow God, YHWH, wherever God's
commands and purposes lead. According to the words of our text, the only
one who learns anything is in (NIV) Genesis 22.12 − 12 “Do not lay a hand on
the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I [God] know that you
[Abraham] fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your
only son.”
Now I Know
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B. God Tests the Relationship
So, even today, God tests the relationship know if we will follow Jesus where ever
he leads us.
1. The Bible, even in the New Testament, still points out that God is "testing" or
"tempting" people. There are though, two uses of the word "to test" or "to
temp" in the New Testament. The first has to do with our being tempted to sin
or to do evil. We read about this in (NIV) James 1.13-15 − 13 When tempted,
no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by
evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are
dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to
death. Our bent towards sin comes from inside ourselves. God is not out trying
to get you to mess up so God can whack you on the head with the big stick.
2. There is another use, though, more in line with how we understand the word
"to test" and which seems closer to what God asked of Abraham. (NIV) 1
Corinthians 10.12-13 − 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that
you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to
mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you
can bear. But when you are tempted, he [God] will also provide a way out so
that you can endure it. Here, the word speaks of times and situation in our
lives when we are "tempted" or "tested" to abandon our faith in God. I fully
believe that God through the Bible tells us that there will be times that will
"test") the extent of our faith in God's ability to lead us into the future and to
"see to it" that we have what we need. Understand this, the idea of God
testing our faith has to be seen not as a legalistic exercise but as part of a
developing relationship. God test the relationship.
a. Consider this: Abraham is tested to see if he is committed only to the
promise of being blessed through his son, Isaac OR is Abraham committed
to the God who made the promise? Has Abraham's faith up to this point
been motivated by what he thinks he will received from God or is
Abraham's faith motivated by a love for God?
3. Again, if we look at the Scriptures of the Bible, it seems that God tests those
who are in a position to have an impact in the work God is doing in our
world. For us the "test" might look the rich young ruler who came to Jesus in
(NIV) Luke 18.18-22 − 18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must
I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why
do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God
alone.
know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you
shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor
your father and mother.’”
20 You
21 “All
these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
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22 When
Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything
you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then
come, follow me.”
4. I imagine the rich young ruler had much to offer if he were to participate with
Jesus in the work of the Kingdom in our world. Yet, the question remained as
to whether or not he would follow Jesus for the blessing or follow Jesus
because of a deep commitment to simply be with Jesus? Jesus will disrupt
your comfort zone so that you will be better positioned to participate with
him in the work of God's Kingdom in this world. Like God does with Abraham,
God is seeking to know if your faith in rooted in the things and comfort God
has given you or is it rooted in a your relationship with God regardless of your
current hope of circumstances. God tests the relationship.
C. Jesus Too Was Tempted
For us, for Christians, we can have faith enough to follow Jesus even if it seems
all must be given up because Jesus too was tempted yet remained faithful to
God's purposes for his life.
1. Abraham does not obey in the way that many seem to understand the
Christian faith, that is, blind faith. If you read on, we are told in (NIV) Genesis
22.5-8 − 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the
boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Abraham gives a witness a testimony to his servant that he is deeply
confident that God will somehow provide what is necessary to maintain the
promise that involves Isaac remaining alive. Yet, Abraham continues to be
obedient. Remember, Abraham does not know this is a test or that God will
spare Isaac. What Abraham has is a long relationship with God who is faithful.
2. Continue reading (NIV) Genesis 22.78 −
father Abraham, “Father?”
7 Isaac
spoke up and said to his
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt
offering?”
8 Abraham
answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering,
my son.” And the two of them went on together.
a. Isaac is not helpless or unaware to some extent of the strange situation
into which he is following his father. Yet again, Abraham has been with
God long enough to be sure that God will see this through, even if Isaac is
taken from him, because Abraham is committed to God and to the
relationship more than to the hope and promises that come with that
relationship.
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3. As Christians, we trust in our relationship with God through Jesus, we cling to it
even when there seems to be no personal benefit in our struggle for faith to
follow Jesus, I believe you will discover that (NIV) Hebrews 2.14-18 − 14 Since
the children have flesh and blood [that is you and me], he [that is Jesus] too
shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him
who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all
their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not
angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. [see, God had to know
Abraham would be faithful to the relationship, in a sense all depended on it]
17 For this reason he [that is Jesus] had to be made like them, fully human in
every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest
in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the
people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted [there is our
word], he is able to help those who are being tempted. Because Jesus, who is
like us in our humanity but also fully God, has been tempted to abandon the
faith, his trust in God, yet Jesus prevailed and has the power to help us
remain faithful even when we see no reason to maintain the faith.
4. Have to move out towards the mountain to experience this relationship with
Jesus.
D. Go the Distance
Like God asks Abraham, God is asking our church family to go the distence so
that other pole might know God's blessings in Jesus
1. It is no mere side note when we read in (NIV) Genesis 22.4 − 4 On the third
day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. The mountain to
which God asks Abraham to go the distance requiring some days of travel.
Abraham might have forced himself to act on God's command by sheer will;
acting to get it over with quickly. Here, the distance gives Abraham time to
think, to decide if he will trust God even when the outcome seems so dire.
The "test" is for faith over the long haul.
2. As I was writing our message this week, it struck me that our church might be
in a time of "testing" as we have seen God "test" Abraham. We have been so
blessed. Most of us are more financially blessed than many in our world. as a
church family, God has blessed us in pulling us through some very difficult
years and reestablishing us as a vibrant and health community of faith. Then,
God continues to bring new people into our sphere of influence: children,
teenagers and adults of various ages.
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3. Like Abraham, are you and I willing to make the necessary sacrifices; to go
the distance. God will not ask us to sacrifice our children. That was a onetime
only test specific to Abraham. But, God has import work for us to do in our
community, in this town, and even around the world, and before God allows
us to move into that future there will be tests.
a. To fund a staff to lead our Youth and Children's Ministry for the children
God has brought to our church.
b. People to participate in the ministries of our church especially in leading
Youth and Children's Ministries.
c. At some point in the near future to refurbish our old sanctuary (still in
discussion stage( so we have more room for ministries.
d. to live into our vision, to Love God, to Love Others, to Serve the World and
to Invite a Friend.
4. When God tested Abraham, how Abraham responded mattered to God.
(NIV) Genesis 22.12 − 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do
anything to him. Now I [God] know that you [Abraham] fear God, because
you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” I think there will
come a time when God will say something like that to us. Either, we will be
found wanting (to have only taken a short walk) and though our church will
probably continue to exist, God will look elsewhere to find Christians willing to
go the distance. Or, we will meet the test, we will go the distance, we will
make the necessary sacrifices, sacrifices which might seem at times to cost us
more than it is worth. Yet, we will see the blessings of participating with Jesus
in work that will last into eternity. And like Abraham, we will experience a
relationship with God that you will find in no other way.
5. In the end, God speaks to Abraham in (NIV) Genesis 22.15- − 15 The angel of
the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time 16 and said, “I swear
by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not
withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the
seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed] because you
have obeyed me.”
6. People's lives will be blessed if we live into our faith.
“Action Point” – Make the sacrifice of you time and money so we can be a part
of God blessing others lives through Jesus the Christ.
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Terence E. Fretheim, Genesis, The New Interpreter's Bible: a Commentary in Twelve Volumes.
Vol. I, edited by Leander E. Keck (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1994).
John H. Walton, Genesis, The NIV Application Commentary: from Biblical Text to
Contemporary Life, edited by Terry Muck, Eugene Peterson, et. all (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House, 2001).
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Extra/Cut:
When Abraham experiences God's provision for him, the goat in exchange for
Isaac, in (NIV) Genesis 22.14 − 14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will
Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be
provided." A more literal translation is, "God will see to it." God will "see to it" that
we are provided for even if it looks like we will lose everything.
As believers in God just like Abraham, who now have the benefit of living under
the new covenant given us through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus
the Christ, we can't help but see this story pointing ahead to God giving us
God's-self in Jesus. This whole story is framed first in (NIV) Genesis 22.2 − 2 Then
God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love. Then in (NIV) Genesis
22.12 − 12 ....Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from
me your son, your only son.” This reminds us that we have every confidence to
have faith in God through Jesus because (NIV) John 1.14 − 14 The Word became
flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the
one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. And we
know that (NIV) John 3.16 − 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.