INTRODUCTION: Here is recorded Abraham's greatest trial of faith. This portion of Scripture is very rich in doctrine and practical application.I. ABRAHAM TESTED - verses 1-2.
What a shock Abraham received as God spoke to him here. He was to offer Isaac, the son of promise, as a burnt offering. This must have seemed totally out of character for God. Did not the heathen do such things? Would not God be destroying His own plan to bring forth Israel and a Saviour through Israel? What a test this was to Abraham's faith. Nothing seemed to make sense.Now let us consider several things concerning God's testing of His people:
A. God does not tempt anyone to sin [James 1:13].
B. God does try His people to test the reality of their faith [Matthew 13:18-23].
C. Often Satan provokes these trials [Jobs 1:6-12; Luke 22:31].
D. Trials are used to mature saints [James 1:3-4].
E. God tests saints to give them an opportunity to glorify Him by their actions under trial.
F. God gives true saints strength to overcome [Luke 22:31- 32; I Corinthians 10:13].
G. These tests are valuable to God's people [I Peter 1 :7].II. UNQUESTIONED OBEDIENCE - verses 3-5.
Faith acts on God's word even when nothing seems reasonable. The next day Abraham headed out to obey God. Not once did he question His orders. How did Abraham reconcile God's command with God's former promise? In Hebrews 11:17-19 , we learn that Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead. This is also seen in verse 5, where Abraham told the servants that he and Isaac would return. Abraham's obedience was strictly an act of faith.III ISAAC - A TYPE OF CHRIST - verses 6-14.
The entire Old Testament points to Christ. In many ways Isaac pictured the Savior:
A. Isaac was a son of miraculous birth.
B. Isaac, like Christ, was the center of all his father’s plan.
C. Isaac’s death would be a great sacrifice to Abraham, just as the giving of Christ required great love on the Father’s part [John 3:16; Romans 8:32].
D. Isaac was to be offered by his father, as was Christ.
E. The Lord Jesus carried his cross, so Isaac carried the wood.
F. Isaac, as a young man, could have resisted his father. In this he pictured the willingness of Christ to submit to the Father’s plan [Isaiah 53:7; Luke 22:42]. G. Isaac's deliverance was a type of the resurrection [Hebrews 11:19].IV. ABRAHAM'S FAITH JUSTIFED - verses 6-14.
Those who teach salvation by works have misused James 2:20-23 to prove their doctrine. Note now the correct exposition:
A. In Genesis 15:5-6, we have a record of how Abraham was saved by faith. He was justified from all sin and received the gift of imputed righteousness [Romans 4:1-5]. Genesis 15 gives us the first example of salvation by grace. Abraham is our "Father" because he is the first example given of salvation through faith in Christ. All who go to Heaven must be saved in this way.B. In Genesis 22, Abraham justified his claim to be a believer by his obedience to God. James 2:20-23 does not teach salvation by works, but salvation by a faith that does work. Any faith that does not manifest itself by obedience to, God is not true saving faith, but a dead faith.
V. ABRAHAM PLEASES GOD - verses 6-14.
Through faith Abraham obeyed and pleased God [Hebrews 11:2, 6, 17-19]. Many brethren have offered their children to false gods out of fear or selfish hopes. Faith working by love makes our actions acceptable to God [Galatians 5:6].VI. IN SALVATION, GOD IS THE PROVIDER - verses 6-8 and 13-14.
What a revelation of grace is here. Salvation is not bought or earned but provided by God. In God's providence a ram was provided to die in Isaac's place. God tested Abraham, but had Himself provided the sacrifice. The place was named Jehovah- Jireh which means "Jehovah will provide." God gave His Son to die in our place. Another of the "Jehovah" titles is Jehovah-Tsidkenull which means " Jehovah is our righteousness" [Jeremiah 33:6]. God the Father as Jehovah gave His Son to die for our sins and become our righteousness [II Corinthians 5:21]. As Jesus is also Jehovah, so truly Jehovah provides and is our righteousness.The last words of verse 14 appear to be a proverb that grew out of this event. It means, in essence, that at that place it was seen or demonstrated that God will provide.
VII. LESSONS FOR CHRISTIANS - verses 6-14.
There is much to learn from this narrative. We see that God must be first in our life [Matthew 10:37]. Often He tests us by demanding what seems dearest in out heart [Matthew 19:21]. We also see that only by faith can we obey God. Reason alone is never sufficient. Lastly we see that one never loses by trusting God. Often He gives back what He demands of us. It was not the physical, but the spiritual sacrifice of Isaac that God wanted. Abraham was permitted to keep Isaac after he proved he was willing to give him up.VII. GOD'S COVENANT REAFFIRMED - verses 15-19.
Was not this fresh encouragement to faith given because of Abraham's obedience?IX. ABRAHAM'S RELATIVES - verses 20-24.
This section supplies necessary background information for Genesis 24. This information was probably brought to Abraham by some passing caravan.
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