to Genesis chapter 22.
Amen.
So we're continuing in our studies,
our series through Genesis.
We've been looking at the life of Abraham.
We started in chapter 12.
And again, I just want to encourage you
that if you miss anything,
you can follow up on our website.
All the sermons are there.
And if you have any questions or anything else,
thank you very much.
Thank you.
About this morning or anything else,
well then, just come and talk to me afterwards.
Be delighted to chat with you more about it.
Well, let's hear God's word.
We're going to read up to verse 19.
Genesis 22.
Some time later, God tested Abraham.
He said to him,
Abraham, here I am, he replied.
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 that I will show you.
Early the next morning,
Abraham got up, 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 told him about.
On the third day,
Abraham looked up
and saw the place in the distance.
He said to his servants,
stay here with the donkey
while I and the boy go over there.
We will worship
and then we'll come back to you.
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 up together,
Isaac spoke up and said
to his father, Abraham,
Father,
yes, my son,
Abraham replied.
The fire and the wood are here,
Isaac said.
But where is the lamb
for the burnt offering?
Abraham answered,
God himself will provide the lamb
for the burnt offering.
And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place
God had told them about,
Abraham built an altar there
and arranged the wood on it.
He bound his son Isaac,
laid him on the altar
on top of the wood.
Then he reached out his hand
and took the knife
to slay his son.
But the angel of the Lord
called out to him from heaven,
Abraham, Abraham.
Here I am, he replied.
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.
Abraham looked up
and there in the 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.
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.
The angel of the Lord
called to Abraham
from heaven a second time
and said,
I swear by myself,
declares the Lord,
that because you have done this
and have not withheld your son,
your only son,
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.
And through your offspring
all nations on earth
will be blessed
because you have obeyed me.
Then Abraham returned to the servants
and they set off together
for Beersheba.
And Abraham stayed in Beersheba.
Let's pray.
Father, we can read
familiar stories
or perhaps
a new story.
But we pray
that by your Spirit
we would not only
understand it
with our minds
but we pray
that its truth
and its message
would change our hearts
and it would lead
to a strengthening
of our faith
whereby we walk
by faith
trusting you
every step of the way
until
we are at home
in glory
with you.
So help us now
we pray
in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Have you ever wondered
what God is doing
with your life?
everything can be going
just fine
when all of a sudden
you find yourself
in a crisis of faith.
Perhaps it's a visit
to a doctor
that reveals
well, something
you didn't want to hear.
Maybe it's a changed
circumstance
that leads
to financial pressure.
Struggles with life
that ends
in a season
of depression.
Maybe it's just
something you wouldn't
share with anybody
else
and only you know.
How can God
let these things
happen to me?
Why is he doing it?
Well, Abraham's life
was sailing along
quite smoothly
when all of a sudden
he was in a crisis
of faith.
But it isn't
without purpose.
Through it all
God is teaching him
and he is teaching us
that in all things
God provides
all that we need
so that our faith
is strengthened.
In all things
in every event
and circumstance
of our life
God will provide
all
that we need
so that our faith
is strengthened
and we will keep
walking with him
until we reach
our eternal destiny.
four things
we're going to look
at from this account
that will help us
to see that
this is
true.
Here's the first one.
The test
faith
experiences.
The test
that faith
experiences.
We can be sure
that as we walk
the Christian life
we are going to
face some very
testing times.
In fact
they will come
suddenly
and surprisingly.
Look at verse 1.
Sometime later
God
tested
Abraham.
Now testing
is not the same
as tempting.
God isn't trying
to trip
Abraham up.
God is
building
Abraham up.
You see
these times
of testing
that we face
are not
random events
that we somehow
must battle
through alone.
They are
ordained
by God
for our good.
God isn't
in the business
of letting
accidents
happen.
There are no
accidents
with God.
Look what it says.
God
tested
Abraham.
Walking
through the
gym doors
I was confronted
with a
large sign
that said
no pain
no gain.
maybe you've
seen one of
them before.
Apparently
when you
exercise
the
micro
fibres
in your
muscles
begin to
stretch
and tear
and they
rip.
But after
the exercise
during a time
of healing
they recover
and as they
recover
the muscles
actually
build up
and they
get stronger.
You see
without the
testing
without the
pressure
on your
muscle
there is
no
strengthening
of your
muscle.
Well that's
what's going
on here
in this
account
that we're
reading
in Genesis
22.
God is
testing
Abraham
for the
purpose
of building
and
strengthening
Abraham.
So what is
it that
Abraham's
test
is all
about?
well it
all involves
or it
all revolves
around his
son.
Look at
verse 2.
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
the mountain
that I will
show you.
Now that
must have
crushed
Abraham
my son
my only
son
my son
that I
love
Isaac
why would
God
command
such a
thing?
Well when
we consider
who Isaac
is we can
begin to
see things
a little
more clearly.
Isaac is
not just
Abraham
son.
Remember
what we've
been looking
at.
He is
the son
of the
promise.
God
had promised
to make
Abraham
into a
nation
that would
become
God's
very own
people
and he
promised
that through
that people
would come
a son
who would
bring salvation
to the
world.
So if
Abraham is
to sacrifice
his son
Isaac
that means
the promises
that God
has made
have gone.
They're
dead.
No more
blessings.
So what's
going on?
Why would
God tell
Abraham to
do such a
thing?
Everything
from chapter
12 all the
way up to
now that
30 years
have taken
place have
all been
about the
promise.
They've been
waiting for
years and
years Abraham
and Sarah
to have
a son and
eventually the
son, the
promises
arrived and
now God
comes along
and says
I'm going
to take
your son.
It's
puzzling.
It's
perplexing.
Why would
God bring
such
testing?
Well I
think the
big question
in all of
this is
God is
saying do
you trust
me?
Will you
have faith
in me?
You see
we go
through
testing times
don't we
each one
of us?
And that
doesn't mean
to say God
is going to
come along
and say to
us sacrifice
your child.
No scripture
tells us that
God is against
all human
sacrifice.
In fact
we'll see in
a little while
that God
actually has
no intention
of killing
Abraham's
son.
But yet
here the
principle
remains
will you
trust me
in testing
times?
Even though
you feel like
your life is
falling apart
will you
follow me?
Even though
you can't
see beyond
tomorrow
will you
have faith
in me?
do we
trust God
when we
don't
understand
what's
going on
or why
it's
happening
and why
I'm
feeling
the way
I am?
You see
times of
testing
will come
and sometimes
these times
will not
make any
sense to
us
whatsoever.
But in
our testing
will we
say
God is
all I
need
He is
enough
He is
sufficient
Will you
trust Him
in your
time of
testing?
So first
the test
that faith
experiences
Second
the
confidence
that faith
brings
the confidence
that faith
brings
Now it's
tempting for us
as we read
this story
to imagine
what Abraham
must have
been thinking
when God
said go
sacrifice your
son
what would
he have
thought?
Did he
have a
conversation
with Sarah
about it?
Well it
seems the
author doesn't
want us to
go there
because the
focus is
not on
what Abraham
was thinking
or any
conversations
he may or
may not
have had
but on
how Abraham
responds.
God said
sacrifice
your son
and
verse 3
early the
next morning
Abraham
got up
loaded his
donkey
he took
with him
two of
his servants
and his
son Isaac
and when
he had
cut enough
wood for
the burnt
offering
he set
out for
the place
God had
told him
about.
There it
is
go sacrifice
your son
there's no
fuss
it seems
all quite
simple
Abraham
goes about
the day
and prepares
everything that
needs to be
done
God
speaks
Abraham
obeys
obedience
you see that's
what faith
is
faith
is spelt
obedience
it's
listening to
God
who sees
all things
who knows
all things
who is
sovereign over
everything
and doing
what he
says
of course
there are
times we
would like a
little bit more
information
in our
life
if only
God would
show me
what is
going to
happen
into the
future
if only
I could
get a
better
picture
and know
what it's
going to
be like
well
then yes
I'll
step out
in faith
no
faith
is expressed
in the
little tiny
steps
of daily
obedience
we might
not know
everything
that God
is doing
but God
has
given us
his word
and so
we humbly
obey it
you see
faith
is not
a feeling
it's not
something about
well if it
feels good
to me
if it
seems right
for me
then I'll
do it
no
it is
obedience
in action
God
speaks
we listen
and we
obey
that's what
walking in
faith
is all
about
but still
the question
is there
how does
Abraham
act
with such
confident
faith
well
Abraham's
confidence
is not
in himself
his confidence
rests and
relies on
the God
who is
faithful
to his
promises
look
how he
responds
first
hear what
he says
to the
servants
let's pick
it up
in verse
four
on the
third
day
Abraham
looked up
and saw
the place
in the
distance
he said
to his
servants
you guys
stay here
with the
donkey
while I
and the
boy
go over
there
we will
worship
and then
we're
going to
come
back
to you
now
what a
statement
to make
sacrificing
your son
is going
to mean
a death
and yet
Abraham
declares
with confidence
did you see
it did you
pick it up
at the end
of verse
five
we will
worship
and then
what
we
will come
back
to you
how could
he say
such a
thing
second
listen to
what he
says to
his son
verse
six
Abraham
took the
wood for
the burnt
offering
placed it
on his
son Isaac
and he
himself
carried
the fire
and the
knife
but there's
something
missing
isn't
there
and Isaac
is onto
it like
a flash
as the
two of
them went
on together
Isaac
spoke up
and said
to his
father
Abraham
father
yes
my son
the
fire
and the
wood
are here
but where's
the lamb
for the
burnt
offering
Abraham
answered
God
himself
will
provide
the lamb
for the
burnt
offering
my son
and the
two of
them went
on
together
the
sacrifice
is
Isaac
and it
seems
Abraham
is ready
to go
with it
he's come
prepared
the wood
the fire
the knife
but yet
he can
still
say
with
confidence
God
himself
will
provide
the
lamb
now we
mustn't
think that
Abraham
is strutting
about
in pride
be like
me
everyone
just have
more
faith
no this
isn't
arrogance
this is
humble
confidence
in a
God
who is
faithful
to his
promise
you see
Abraham's
faith
is a
reasoned
faith
his
steps
of
obedience
are
founded
on the
strong
foundation
of what
God
had
already
said
the
author
of
Hebrews
gives
us
an
insight
into
how
Abraham
was
thinking
go
with
me
to
Hebrews
chapter
11
Hebrews
chapter
11
verse
17
and if
you've
got a
page
number
please
call it
out there
for me
1 2
1 0
1 2
1 0
Hebrews
chapter
11
verse
17
so as
we
read
this
text
it
helps
us
to
see
what
Abraham
was
thinking
how
he
was
processing
his
faith
verse
17
by
faith
Abraham
when
God
tested
him
offered
Isaac
as a
sacrifice
he
who
had
embraced
the
promises
was
about
to
sacrifice
his
one
and
only
son
even
though
God
had
said
to
him
it
is
through
Isaac
that
your
offspring
will
be
reckoned
Abraham
reasoned
that
God
could
even
raise
the
dead
and
so
in
a
manner
of
speaking
he
did
receive
Isaac
back
from
the
dead
you
see
Abraham
went
forward
in
obedience
armed
with
the
promises
of
God
Abraham
knew
God
to
be
faithful
and
he
knew
God
was
not
going
to
break
his
promise
it
depended
on
the
son
of
Abraham
so
he
reasoned
he
calculated
he
thought
about
it
and
he
stepped
out
in
faith
and
he
said
even
if
my
son
is
to
be
sacrificed
even
though
my
son
will
be
killed
God
could
raise
him
from
the
dead
you
see
things
had
already
happened
in
Abraham's
life
for him
to
think
like
this
his
wife
Sarah
was
old
and
barren
she
had
a
dead
womb
but
yet
God
put
life
into
that
dead
womb
and
brought
forth
life
and
if
he
could
do
that
in
that
incident
well
it's
not
too
big
of a
jump
to
calculate
that
maybe
God
could
bring
someone
to
life
and
armed
with
that
promise
he
stepped
out
in
faith
and
what
about
you
and
me
because
don't
we
have
a
God
who
died
through
his
son
Jesus
and
who
was
raised
from
the
dead
and
if
he
can
say
to
you
I
have
power
over
death
itself
will
you
not
trust
him
look
we're
not
Abraham
I get
that
but
we are
like
Abraham
in
that
we
are
to
live
and
walk
by
faith
that
is
rooted
and
founded
on
the
shore
and
certain
promises
of
God
we
don't
need
to
know
every
detail
of
our
life
we
don't
need
to
work
out
our
future
or
to
try
and
have
everything
in
our
control
we
are
to
simply
listen
to
God's
word
to
read
it
and
obey
it
our
confidence
is not
in our
faith
but in
the
faithfulness
of an
almighty
God
who
has
power
over
death
and
who
never
fails
so
the
confidence
that
faith
gives
third
there's
the
provision
that
faith
receives
the
test
let's
go back
to
Genesis
chapter
22
the
test
is not
over
in fact
the test
is only
just
beginning
the
altar
is
prepared
the
wood
is
arranged
Isaac
is
bound
the
knife
is
raised
what
God
commanded
Abraham
to do
is
actually
taking
place
do you
think
Isaac
struggled
was there
a fight
between
his
father
and
the
son
what
did
Abraham
say
to
eventually
convince
his
son
or
did
he
just
overpower
him
what
was
going
on
but
once
again
the
focus
is
on
what
we
don't
know
but
on
what
God
did
God
provides
verse
10
then
he
reached
out
his
hand
took
the
knife
to
slay
his
son
but
the
angel
of
the
Lord
called
out
to
him
from
heaven
Abraham
here
I
am
do
not
lay
a
hand
on
the
boy
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
that's
it
Abraham
round
of applause
everybody
you've
passed
the test
congratulations
let's
crack
open
the
champagne
you've
done
it
in
fact
in
honour
of
your
great
faith
Abraham
let's
call
this
mountain
Abraham
the
great
no
verse
14
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
you
see
Isaac
may
have
been
spared
but
only
because
God
provided
that's
what we
read in
verse 13
isn't
it
Abraham
looked up
and there
in the
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
just
as
Abraham
believed
God
would
provide
the
lamb
now
don't
worry
about
rams
and
lambs
don't
get
caught
up
about
wondering
well
he
said
a
lamb
now
it's
a
ram
no
the
point
is
God
provided
it's
not
about
Abraham's
demonstration
of
faith
but
God's
provision
in
our
need
this
is
the
kind
of
God
that
we
have
that
in
our
testing
times
God
will
provide
for
all
of
our
needs
and
concerns
he
will
not
forget
you
and
he
won't
fail
you
but
this
story
is
much
more
than
just
a
ram
for
Abraham
this
is
a
story
that
teaches
us
that
we
are
in
need
of
a
substitute
Christmas
パ
that people like you and I are also in need of a substitute
and God is going to provide that for us.
You see, if we are to know God's blessings of salvation,
then we've got to live a faithful and obedient life.
The problem is, so often we are unfaithful.
We are disobedient.
We don't deserve the promises of blessing that God has.
In fact, we deserve to die.
We deserve to be cut off from God forever.
But God in his faithful love provides a substitute for us.
You see, the account of Abraham and Isaac point us, don't they,
forward to another father and his son
who go together to another mountain.
As Abraham lifted up the knife to slay his son,
Abraham hears that voice from heaven that says,
Stop!
Don't lay a hand on the boy.
Look, I've provided a substitute to take its place.
Yet as Jesus hangs on the cross,
the Father's judgment falls,
and there is no voice from heaven saying,
Stop!
There's another substitute.
Why?
Because Jesus Christ is our substitute.
He is the one who stands in for us.
He is the one who is slain for us.
Jesus is the one who takes the judgment we deserve.
He dies our death
so that you and I might live.
On the mount of crucifixion,
God the Father sends his son,
his one and only son,
the son whom he loves,
Jesus,
to die in our place
so that we might be able to receive
the blessing of salvation
and the redemption of our lives.
You see, in our times of testing,
we so often fail and fall.
But God in his goodness
has provided the perfect substitute that we need.
In a moment, we're going to remember back
to the death of Jesus for us.
And as we take and share in communion together,
we look back, don't we,
to the mount of crucifixion
and we remember there
that on the mountain,
the Lord provided for us.
It's not a celebration of our great faith,
but the provision of God's great substitute.
So the provision that faith receives.
And then to wrap up,
the blessings that faith guarantees.
God may have provided
a substitute for Isaac,
but that's not the end of the account.
God isn't done yet.
He has more to give.
There are more blessings to come.
God confirms
and guarantees his promise, doesn't he?
Look at verse 17.
Speaking to Abraham,
I will surely bless you
and make your descendants
as numerous as the stars in the sky
and as the sand on the seashore.
God is promising
that a nation will come from him,
a nation that will become
God's special people.
And they will take possession
of the cities of their enemies.
They will live in the promised land
where there will be peace and rest.
Verse 18,
And through your offspring,
all nations on earth
will be blessed.
That through that family line
would come the ultimate son
who would bring salvation
and redemption.
Just as God had said to Abraham
when he first called him,
so God remains faithful
to his promise.
The blessings flow
like a mighty river,
a fountain washing over.
But why did the blessings come?
Well, look at the end of verse 16.
Because you have done this
and have not withheld your son,
your only son,
I will surely bless you.
In other words,
end of verse 18,
the blessings come because
you have obeyed me.
Faith obeys.
Faith takes God as his word
and it does what God says.
You see,
obedience does matter.
Grace leads to obedience.
The evidence,
the sign that we have received
God's grace
is an obedient life.
It is through obedient faith
that we experience
the blessings of God.
Now as we reflect
on these blessings,
it reminds us
that God continues
to bless his people.
That God graciously
provides us
with all things.
You see,
like Abraham,
as we walk by faith,
we can be sure
that God is for us.
He's never going
to let us down.
He will bless us
not just with salvation,
but he will bless us
with all that we need
for all things
in our life.
The Apostle Paul
reminds us of that.
Remember this verse
in Romans 8, 32,
speaking of God,
He who did not
spare his own Son,
but gave him up
for us all,
how will he not also
along with him
graciously give us
all things?
He will graciously
give us
all things.
If God did not
withhold his Son,
his only Son,
whom he loves,
Jesus,
then he is not
going to withhold
anything that is
right and best
for you.
God in his love
provided the greatest
gift possible,
a substitute for us,
so that we could
have life with him
and he will continue
to bless us
and to provide us
with all that we need
as we follow him.
So as we go through
our testing times,
God calls us
to walk
in obedient faith.
we may walk
through dark times.
We may walk
through fearful times.
We can be confused
and challenged
and wonder
what God is doing.
We can be perplexed
and stretched.
Yet through it all,
God has promised
to provide
all that we need.
The blessing
will continue
to flow.
In all things,
God will provide
all that we need
so that our faith
is strengthened.
Will you trust him?
He's good
and he's kind.
Let's pray.
Amen.
Lord God,
we confess
that we are
so small
we do not
see the bigger
picture
of all that
you are doing.
But yet
you have shown
us
great love.
You have been
faithful
in providing
Jesus Christ
our sacrifice.
You have
continued to
bless us
in ways
that we never
thought possible.
Help us
to walk
by faith.
In Jesus'
name.
Amen.