WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.459 Today we turn to the preaching of God's Word. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:06.360 We're going to be continuing our look in the book of Genesis chapter 22. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.700 If you were with us last week, you may remember that James, 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:15.380 we've been walking through this series called Seeing Christ in the Old Testament. 00:00:16.219 --> 00:00:18.980 And James preached from Genesis 12 last week, 00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:22.900 which is where God comes to a man named Abram. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:27.660 And He promises to bless him, to make him great, 00:00:27.660 --> 00:00:30.079 to make him into a great nation, 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:33.119 and that all nations through him may be blessed. 00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:37.159 And so today we're going to be jumping to Genesis 22, 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:41.340 a very famous passage, maybe even you could call it an infamous passage, 00:00:41.620 --> 00:00:46.079 that kind of bookends this life and ministry of Abraham. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.260 And what we see oftentimes throughout the Bible, 00:00:49.340 --> 00:00:51.980 when you have two passages that serve as bookends, 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:55.019 there's often similarities you see between the two. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:00:58.740 And so I think we see that as well in our passage today, 00:00:58.840 --> 00:01:03.080 because in Genesis 12, God gives Abraham a command to go. 00:01:03.720 --> 00:01:06.320 To go and to leave his past behind. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.140 To leave his land, to leave his family, 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:12.140 to leave his father's house, and to move to a new land. 00:01:13.100 --> 00:01:16.280 And so what we're going to see in our passage today in Genesis 22 00:01:16.280 --> 00:01:18.200 is something, a similar command. 00:01:18.280 --> 00:01:21.080 To go, but not to leave your past, 00:01:21.079 --> 00:01:22.379 but to leave your future. 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:24.920 To abandon your son, 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:27.200 your promised child, 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:31.259 and to sacrifice him in a land that I will tell you. 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:34.519 And so while we see these similarities in structure, 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:36.340 you may think, well, that seems like a contradiction. 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:38.239 It seems like one is a blessing, 00:01:38.340 --> 00:01:39.700 and one is a curse. 00:01:39.759 --> 00:01:42.340 But I think what we're going to see as we dig into this text 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:46.200 is that this blessing continues in Abraham's life 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:48.900 from Genesis 12 to Genesis 22 onward 00:01:48.900 --> 00:01:52.520 that shows to us that we have a loving and gracious, 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:54.200 covenant-keeping God 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:57.219 who can be trusted for the redemption of his people. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:01:59.500 And so let's turn to our passage. 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:03.600 Genesis 22, we'll be reading verses 1 through 19. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:08.579 Sometime later, God tested Abraham and said to him, 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:11.199 Abraham, here I am, he replied. 00:02:12.019 --> 00:02:13.599 Then God said, take your son, 00:02:14.199 --> 00:02:16.419 your only son whom you love, Isaac, 00:02:16.579 --> 00:02:18.560 and go to the region of Moriah. 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:21.519 Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering 00:02:21.519 --> 00:02:23.180 on a mountain I will show you. 00:02:24.139 --> 00:02:26.120 Early the next morning, Abraham got up 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:27.139 and loaded his donkey. 00:02:28.240 --> 00:02:30.759 He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:33.620 When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:35.859 he set out for the place God had told him about. 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:38.780 On the third day, Abraham looked up 00:02:38.780 --> 00:02:40.280 and saw the place in the distance. 00:02:41.199 --> 00:02:42.060 And he said to his servants, 00:02:42.239 --> 00:02:43.199 stay here with the donkey 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:45.120 while I and the boy go over there. 00:02:45.859 --> 00:02:48.219 We will worship, and then we will come back. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:51.120 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:52.840 and placed it on his son Isaac. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:57.560 And he himself carried the fire and the knife. 00:02:58.019 --> 00:02:59.979 And as the two of them went on together, 00:02:59.979 --> 00:03:02.919 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, 00:03:03.119 --> 00:03:05.819 Father, yes, my son, Abraham replied. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:08.919 The fire and wood are here, Isaac said. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:11.099 But where is the lamb for the burnt offering? 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:13.280 Abraham answered, 00:03:13.859 --> 00:03:15.679 God himself will provide the lamb 00:03:15.679 --> 00:03:16.979 for the burnt offering, my son. 00:03:17.899 --> 00:03:19.280 And the two of them went on together. 00:03:20.239 --> 00:03:22.599 When they reached the place God had told them about, 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:24.099 Abraham built an altar there 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:25.979 and arranged the wood on it. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:28.079 He bound his son Isaac 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.960 and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 00:03:31.540 --> 00:03:32.900 Then he reached out his hand 00:03:32.900 --> 00:03:35.040 and took the knife to slay his son. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:37.060 But the angel of the Lord 00:03:37.060 --> 00:03:38.260 called out to him from heaven, 00:03:38.420 --> 00:03:39.540 Abraham, Abraham. 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:41.720 Here I am, he replied. 00:03:42.220 --> 00:03:45.060 Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said. 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:46.900 Do not do anything to him, 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:48.600 for I know that you fear God 00:03:48.600 --> 00:03:50.760 because you have not withheld from me 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:53.060 your son, your only son. 00:03:53.060 --> 00:03:56.439 Abraham looked up and there in the thicket 00:03:56.439 --> 00:03:58.199 he saw a ram caught by its horns. 00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.180 He went over and took the ram 00:04:00.180 --> 00:04:01.879 and sacrificed it as a burnt offering 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:02.780 instead of his son. 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:05.060 So Abraham called the place, 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:06.060 the Lord will provide. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:07.960 And to this day it is said, 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:09.199 on the mountain of the Lord 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.039 it will be provided. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:13.039 The angel of the Lord called to Abraham 00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:14.300 from heaven a second time 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:16.379 and said, I swear by myself, 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:17.160 declares the Lord, 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:18.840 that because you have done this 00:04:18.840 --> 00:04:20.699 and have not withheld your son, 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:21.759 your only son, 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:23.659 I will surely bless you 00:04:23.659 --> 00:04:25.139 and make your descendants 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:27.539 as numerous as the stars in the sky 00:04:27.539 --> 00:04:29.060 as the sand on the seashore. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:31.300 Your descendants will take possession 00:04:31.300 --> 00:04:32.839 of the cities of their enemies 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:34.680 and through your offspring 00:04:34.680 --> 00:04:37.339 all nations on earth will be blessed 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:39.240 because you have obeyed me. 00:04:40.339 --> 00:04:42.060 Then Abraham returned to his servants 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:44.379 and they set off together for Beersheba 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:47.240 and Abraham stayed in Beersheba. 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.139 This is the word of God. 00:04:49.139 --> 00:04:51.339 Let's pray again together. 00:04:56.159 --> 00:04:57.779 Oh God, as we consider 00:04:57.779 --> 00:05:00.060 this difficult passage, 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.579 I ask that you be our help, 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:05.219 that you open our minds 00:05:05.219 --> 00:05:06.899 as we read the scriptures, 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:09.180 as your word is proclaimed, 00:05:09.919 --> 00:05:13.079 that we may be led by your spirit in truth, 00:05:13.779 --> 00:05:15.819 that we may be taught your will, 00:05:15.819 --> 00:05:18.819 that we may be able to see 00:05:18.819 --> 00:05:20.659 the glorious character of a God 00:05:20.659 --> 00:05:22.199 who provides for his people. 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:24.860 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:05:25.579 --> 00:05:25.899 Amen. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:30.019 What we see in this passage 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:31.040 from the very beginning, 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:33.399 we get some insight from the narrator 00:05:33.399 --> 00:05:35.860 that Abraham himself isn't given. 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:38.259 We see in verse 1 that it says 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:39.819 that God tested Abraham. 00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:40.300 Abraham. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:42.120 And so I wonder, 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:44.579 if anyone here is a big fan of test taking, 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.240 a lot of students among us, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:47.639 maybe something, 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:48.399 a test is something 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:50.240 that you actually look forward to perhaps, 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:51.579 you enjoy the preparation, 00:05:51.819 --> 00:05:54.040 you enjoy being able to prove yourself, 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:56.079 that you know some knowledge, 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:57.659 that you have some skill. 00:05:58.539 --> 00:05:59.959 Perhaps you enjoy the fact 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:01.779 that you can prepare yourself 00:06:01.779 --> 00:06:03.199 for whether it's a presentation 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.019 or an exam of some sort. 00:06:06.039 --> 00:06:08.439 I myself enjoyed test taking so much 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:10.839 that I took my UK driver's test three times. 00:06:12.459 --> 00:06:13.439 Maybe there's some of you here 00:06:13.439 --> 00:06:14.300 that hate test taking. 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:15.319 The thought of test taking 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:16.439 is something that gives you nightmares 00:06:16.439 --> 00:06:18.300 to think about tests you've had in the past 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:20.219 or tests that you have in the future. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:22.659 My wife and I, some of you know, 00:06:22.779 --> 00:06:24.439 lived and worked in China for a time 00:06:24.439 --> 00:06:25.259 a long time ago, 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:26.839 and we taught at a university, 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:29.839 and we taught in the English department. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.480 And so part of our responsibility as teaching, 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:33.800 we had to give a final exam 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:34.680 at the end of the term. 00:06:35.500 --> 00:06:36.460 And the first semester, 00:06:36.540 --> 00:06:38.060 I was teaching first-year students 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:40.120 that the protocol was for me 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:42.200 to turn in a PDF of my exam 00:06:42.200 --> 00:06:43.860 for the department to print 00:06:43.860 --> 00:06:45.540 and have on the morning of the exam 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:46.680 that I could give to my students. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:50.080 And so I turned in my PDF long in advance. 00:06:50.200 --> 00:06:52.200 I go to this big lecture high, 00:06:52.300 --> 00:06:53.740 300 first-year students 00:06:53.740 --> 00:06:55.060 that were going to be taking this exam. 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:56.280 And I look at my paper 00:06:56.280 --> 00:06:58.420 and realize this is not the test 00:06:58.420 --> 00:07:01.340 that I had sent to the department. 00:07:01.339 --> 00:07:03.339 And so I quickly go to the department. 00:07:03.479 --> 00:07:04.759 I say, hey, look, this isn't my test. 00:07:04.819 --> 00:07:05.719 Do you have the right test? 00:07:05.739 --> 00:07:07.379 And they said, actually, 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:08.979 we must have been a mistake. 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:10.179 We didn't print your test at all, 00:07:10.239 --> 00:07:11.500 and there's not time to print it 00:07:11.500 --> 00:07:12.699 before your exam. 00:07:13.659 --> 00:07:15.560 And so rather than delay the exam 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:17.479 or postpone it altogether, 00:07:17.479 --> 00:07:19.620 they said, well, just go back into the room, 00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:21.519 give the students this exam, 00:07:21.579 --> 00:07:22.299 and don't tell them 00:07:22.299 --> 00:07:23.379 that it's not the right one. 00:07:24.299 --> 00:07:26.319 And they did this because the department, 00:07:26.459 --> 00:07:27.819 they didn't want to lose face 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:29.099 in front of the administration, 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:31.600 that if an administrator was walking by the hall, 00:07:31.660 --> 00:07:32.700 they knew a test was supposed 00:07:32.700 --> 00:07:33.460 to be going on this room, 00:07:33.520 --> 00:07:34.800 and there were no students there, 00:07:35.379 --> 00:07:37.800 someone could be really offended 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:40.340 or embarrassed by their own mistake. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:42.300 And so I have to go back into this room 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:43.100 with 300 students, 00:07:43.200 --> 00:07:44.060 pass out these papers, 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:45.720 and you can imagine the look on their faces 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:47.020 when they start taking this exam 00:07:47.020 --> 00:07:48.420 and realize they don't know 00:07:48.420 --> 00:07:49.620 any of the answers. 00:07:51.080 --> 00:07:52.460 The horror that they wonder 00:07:52.460 --> 00:07:53.760 if they study the wrong thing, 00:07:54.020 --> 00:07:55.320 the hatred directed at me 00:07:55.320 --> 00:07:56.320 thinking that I've tricked them 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.199 about what is going to be on the exam. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.480 Well, we see in this story 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:02.259 a very similar thing with a test. 00:08:02.740 --> 00:08:04.860 This passage opens with a test 00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:06.519 of much greater proportions, 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:08.180 of much greater consequences, 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:09.180 and you may think 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:10.699 may get a response from Abraham 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:12.399 in a very similar manner. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:14.240 But as I want to do 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:15.659 as we walk through this text 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:18.879 is to really examine three things. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:19.839 Because in this narrative, 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:21.639 we see really this unfolding 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:22.959 of three different scenes. 00:08:23.959 --> 00:08:25.620 And so we begin with this test. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:27.019 This is what I want us to focus on 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:27.959 to begin with. 00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:29.840 But then we have this response 00:08:29.840 --> 00:08:30.500 from Abraham 00:08:30.500 --> 00:08:32.399 and then also provision 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:33.139 that's provided. 00:08:33.840 --> 00:08:34.940 So that's what we're going to be looking at. 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:37.060 The test, the response, 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.360 and the provision. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:39.960 So let's look again 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:41.320 and think more about this test 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:43.320 that we see in verse 1. 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.100 God calls to Abraham and says, 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:46.940 Abraham, he says, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:47.679 here I am. 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:49.159 In verse 2, God says, 00:08:49.240 --> 00:08:50.740 take your son, your only son, 00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:51.840 whom you love, Isaac, 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:54.100 and go to the region of Bariah. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.580 And sacrifice him there 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:56.399 as a burnt offering 00:08:56.399 --> 00:08:56.960 on the mountain, 00:08:57.080 --> 00:08:57.820 I will show you. 00:08:58.220 --> 00:08:59.700 We see from the very beginning 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:01.060 that God is testing 00:09:01.060 --> 00:09:02.740 the faith of Abraham. 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:04.940 Will Abraham have faith in God? 00:09:06.019 --> 00:09:08.139 We said this mirrors chapter 12, right? 00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:08.820 In chapter 12, 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:10.040 God comes to Abraham 00:09:10.040 --> 00:09:10.879 and it seems as though 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.460 it's the voice of blessing. 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:14.540 God says to go from this land, 00:09:14.659 --> 00:09:15.680 I'm going to give you a family, 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:16.920 I'm going to give you wealth, 00:09:17.180 --> 00:09:18.340 I'm going to give you an inheritance. 00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:22.220 But yet in chapter 22, 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:22.940 it seems as though 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:25.240 it's a voice of cursing. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:26.700 Rather than a promise, 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:27.500 it seems as though 00:09:27.500 --> 00:09:29.280 it's a threat to that promise 00:09:29.280 --> 00:09:30.200 that he's been giving. 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:32.300 This inexplicable contradiction. 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:34.820 We see in between 12 and 22 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:36.899 that Abraham had been promised this son. 00:09:37.560 --> 00:09:39.180 Abraham being 100 years old, 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:40.580 his wife being 90 years old, 00:09:40.780 --> 00:09:42.259 how were they to have a child? 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:43.500 And yet God blesses them 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:45.120 with this one promised son. 00:09:45.180 --> 00:09:46.560 And now it seems that this son 00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:47.720 is to be taken from them. 00:09:47.720 --> 00:09:50.920 And we see just how special this boy is, 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.420 how he's described by the narrator. 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:54.820 Very deliberately, 00:09:55.060 --> 00:09:56.480 he's called your son, 00:09:57.399 --> 00:09:58.740 your only son, 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:01.480 the son whom you love, Isaac. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:03.899 And so we're highlighted, 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:04.800 the reader's highlighted, 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:06.860 it's highlighted just how special 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:08.220 this boy was, 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:10.300 this promised miraculous son, 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:13.480 very flesh and blood of Abraham. 00:10:14.680 --> 00:10:17.340 And he's told not only just to kill him, 00:10:17.340 --> 00:10:18.759 we're told very specifically 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:19.879 what kind of sacrifice 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:20.920 this is supposed to be, 00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.340 a burnt offering. 00:10:23.780 --> 00:10:25.220 That means to kill him, 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:27.220 to cut him up, 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:28.720 and to let the fire 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:30.540 completely consume him 00:10:30.540 --> 00:10:31.860 until there is nothing left. 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:35.100 A horrible scene 00:10:35.100 --> 00:10:36.379 to think of a father 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.480 having to do to his son. 00:10:37.540 --> 00:10:38.660 But the significance of this 00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:39.820 is not only that Abraham 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:41.180 would be losing his son, 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:42.940 but he'd be losing the promise 00:10:42.940 --> 00:10:44.259 that's attached to his son. 00:10:44.259 --> 00:10:47.480 Because God was very explicit 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.220 to Abraham about how this blessing 00:10:49.220 --> 00:10:50.939 would flow through him 00:10:50.939 --> 00:10:51.899 to his family. 00:10:52.639 --> 00:10:53.519 That it was supposed to flow 00:10:53.519 --> 00:10:54.379 through Isaac. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.279 Not Eleazar, 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:56.779 Abraham's servant, 00:10:56.919 --> 00:10:57.919 before he had a son, 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:58.179 he thought, 00:10:58.279 --> 00:10:59.480 well maybe this servant of mine 00:10:59.480 --> 00:11:00.159 will be my heir. 00:11:01.179 --> 00:11:02.379 Not through Ishmael, 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:04.480 who's the son of Sarah's servant, 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.019 Hagar, 00:11:06.340 --> 00:11:07.259 who Abraham fathered, 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:09.519 but through Isaac. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:11.199 This is what is promised 00:11:11.199 --> 00:11:12.819 to Abraham in Genesis 17. 00:11:13.379 --> 00:11:14.699 I will establish my covenant 00:11:14.699 --> 00:11:15.360 with him, 00:11:15.439 --> 00:11:16.139 meaning Isaac, 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:17.779 as an everlasting covenant 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:18.879 for his descendants 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.019 after him. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:22.319 And so all these descendants, 00:11:22.579 --> 00:11:23.360 all this blessing 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:24.699 that the nations were to experience, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.899 it was to come from Isaac. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.259 How is that supposed to happen now? 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:32.120 Well we turn to scene two then. 00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:34.399 What is Abraham's response 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.419 to this test? 00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:38.159 And I want us to think, 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:38.939 before we think about 00:11:38.939 --> 00:11:40.019 how Abraham responded, 00:11:40.120 --> 00:11:41.259 think about how someone 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.600 who maybe reads this passage 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:43.679 for the first time, 00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:44.699 who's not a believer, 00:11:44.839 --> 00:11:46.139 who's not familiar with Christianity, 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:47.779 how they may respond 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:49.659 to this test from God. 00:11:50.539 --> 00:11:52.019 It's usually one of two ways. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.259 It's either confusion 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:55.039 or it's disgust. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.240 How in the world 00:11:57.240 --> 00:11:58.879 could a loving God 00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.879 demand this 00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:01.620 of a follower like Abraham? 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.919 How in the world 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.220 would this God 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:07.199 ask for something so wicked 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:08.300 to be done 00:12:08.300 --> 00:12:09.580 to man child sacrifice? 00:12:09.800 --> 00:12:10.620 Even if this was 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:11.920 a common pagan custom 00:12:11.920 --> 00:12:12.520 in the day, 00:12:12.800 --> 00:12:13.540 if your God 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:14.200 is better than 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:14.879 these other gods, 00:12:15.020 --> 00:12:15.840 why in the world 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:17.220 would he demand 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:18.020 the same thing? 00:12:19.620 --> 00:12:20.600 And just to provide 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:21.500 a little bit of insight 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:22.360 before we move on, 00:12:22.400 --> 00:12:23.400 if this is your mindset, 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:24.259 what we're going to see 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.280 is that here 00:12:25.280 --> 00:12:26.020 and other places 00:12:26.020 --> 00:12:26.560 in the Bible, 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:27.879 God often uses 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.840 common custom 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:29.620 in order to get 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.379 someone's attention, 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:32.480 in order to change 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:33.120 their mindset 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:34.140 and redirect it. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:34.980 God's attention 00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.759 because if we go back 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:36.939 to Genesis 15 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:38.080 where there's this 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.019 covenant ceremony 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:40.679 between Abraham and God, 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:42.559 God had instructed Abraham 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:43.740 to cut these animals 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.259 in half, 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:45.779 to line them up 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:48.000 and for Abraham and God 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.679 we're going to meet 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:49.139 in the middle. 00:12:49.379 --> 00:12:49.960 This isn't something 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:51.059 that God just made up 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:51.639 on a whim. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.279 This would have been 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.759 a ceremony that Abraham 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.539 would have been familiar with 00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.059 to symbolize a bond 00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:58.019 between two people. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:12:59.919 But God changes up 00:12:59.919 --> 00:13:00.519 that ceremony, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:01.039 doesn't he? 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:02.100 He doesn't meet Abraham 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:02.639 in the middle. 00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:03.580 He is the one 00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:04.379 who walks through 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.000 the animals 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:06.120 to Abraham 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:06.820 indicating that 00:13:06.820 --> 00:13:07.940 he is the one 00:13:07.940 --> 00:13:09.000 who is going to be 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.540 responsible 00:13:09.540 --> 00:13:10.480 for keeping 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:12.220 this covenant promise. 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:14.139 And so likewise here 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:15.200 God is using 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.080 this pagan ritual 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:16.680 not to say 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.600 I endorse 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.920 child sacrifice 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.200 but rather 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.360 to subvert it. 00:13:21.920 --> 00:13:22.279 To say 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:22.879 I don't want 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.480 the sacrifice 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.159 of your children. 00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:26.920 I demand a sacrifice 00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:28.080 but I will be the one 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:28.899 who provides 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.019 that sacrifice 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:30.740 for you. 00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:32.620 And so that's 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.220 getting a little 00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:33.899 ahead of ourselves 00:13:33.899 --> 00:13:34.460 but I think it's 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:35.299 mindful to be 00:13:35.299 --> 00:13:36.139 thinking of that 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.919 as we think about 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:38.080 Abraham's response. 00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.120 You would think 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:40.259 it would be very right 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:40.820 for Abraham 00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:41.820 to ask questions 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:42.480 of God immediately. 00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.580 Why God? 00:13:43.659 --> 00:13:44.560 Why would you demand 00:13:44.560 --> 00:13:45.120 this of me? 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:45.779 This son that you 00:13:45.779 --> 00:13:46.379 promised me? 00:13:47.560 --> 00:13:48.519 I have four kids 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.139 of my own at home. 00:13:49.220 --> 00:13:49.820 This is a question 00:13:49.820 --> 00:13:50.720 I hear all the time. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:51.519 Why? 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.620 Please practice the piano. 00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:54.340 Why? 00:13:54.560 --> 00:13:55.220 Clean your room. 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:55.960 Why? 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:56.960 Put on your shoes. 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:57.820 Why? 00:13:58.820 --> 00:13:59.519 And as parents 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.879 we can get discouraged 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.819 or just worn down 00:14:01.819 --> 00:14:02.259 to the point 00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.100 we always answer 00:14:03.100 --> 00:14:05.199 because I said so. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:07.720 But we see here 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.179 that Abraham 00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.120 didn't ask this 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:09.799 question of God. 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:10.360 He doesn't ask 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:10.899 any question. 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:11.399 He doesn't try 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:12.379 to reason with God. 00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:13.159 He doesn't try 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:13.759 to plead 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.179 for a reconsideration. 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:16.539 He doesn't try 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:17.579 to remind God 00:14:17.579 --> 00:14:18.460 of his promise. 00:14:20.379 --> 00:14:21.259 At the very least 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:21.679 you may think 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:22.399 that well he's going 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.519 to at least beg 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:24.819 for mercy from God. 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:26.539 At the very worst 00:14:26.539 --> 00:14:26.960 he could try 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:28.000 to curse God 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.259 and say 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.080 there's absolutely 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:30.920 no way I'm going 00:14:30.920 --> 00:14:31.379 to do this 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.340 to my promised son. 00:14:33.660 --> 00:14:34.480 But he does none 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:34.780 of those. 00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.400 In verse 3 00:14:35.400 --> 00:14:36.040 again look 00:14:36.040 --> 00:14:37.180 he says 00:14:37.180 --> 00:14:38.080 early the next morning 00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:39.000 Abraham got up 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:39.940 and loaded his donkey. 00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.080 He took with him 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.940 two of his servants 00:14:41.940 --> 00:14:42.860 and his son Isaac 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:44.560 and he cut enough wood 00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.320 for the burnt offering 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:46.400 he set out for the place 00:14:46.400 --> 00:14:47.519 God had told him about. 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:49.700 Complete 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:51.580 and unwavering 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.060 obedience. 00:14:53.900 --> 00:14:55.120 He takes his son 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:56.279 his servants 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.639 and his supplies 00:14:57.639 --> 00:14:58.740 and he goes 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.279 on his journey. 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.440 And for three days 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.500 he travels on 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.679 continuing in obedience. 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:04.379 Can you imagine 00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.500 how heavy hearted 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:06.600 he would have been 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:07.480 knowing where 00:15:07.480 --> 00:15:08.279 he is going. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.580 The only one 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:10.179 in his group 00:15:10.179 --> 00:15:11.000 knowing what 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.759 is going to happen. 00:15:13.299 --> 00:15:14.159 At any point 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:14.620 he could have 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.560 changed his mind 00:15:15.560 --> 00:15:16.539 and turned around 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:18.159 but he doesn't do that. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.940 He continues on 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:20.539 in obedience 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:22.000 to the hill 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.399 that God 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.120 had directed him. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.960 And notice what 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:25.879 he says in verse 5. 00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:27.080 Stay here with the donkey 00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.039 while I and the boy 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:28.700 go over there 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:30.179 and we will worship 00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:30.960 and then we will 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.860 come back to you. 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.539 He speaks here 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.000 in the plural 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.560 when he's talking 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:34.259 to his servants. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.820 Isaac and I 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.480 we will go 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:37.539 we will worship 00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:39.240 and we will return. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.139 Now you may think 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:41.840 this is just a way 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.580 of covering up 00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.100 so the servants 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:43.759 don't think he's 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.740 get suspicious 00:15:44.740 --> 00:15:45.440 about what's going 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:45.700 to happen 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:46.220 because he doesn't 00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.919 have this lamb 00:15:46.919 --> 00:15:47.399 with him. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:48.899 But we get a little 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.560 more insight 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:50.320 into what 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.919 Abraham was thinking 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.719 if we turn to 00:15:52.719 --> 00:15:53.500 the book of Hebrews 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.299 in the New Testament. 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:55.759 In chapter 11 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.219 of Hebrews 00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:57.059 it recounts 00:15:57.059 --> 00:15:57.899 this wonderful chapter 00:15:57.899 --> 00:15:58.740 that recounts 00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.639 the faith 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.379 that Old Testament 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.199 figures have 00:16:01.199 --> 00:16:01.699 and it speaks 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:03.219 specifically of Abraham 00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:04.459 and this is what 00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.899 it says in chapter 11 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.659 verse 17. 00:16:07.819 --> 00:16:08.559 By faith Abraham 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.740 when God tested him 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.639 offered Isaac 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.759 as a sacrifice. 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.500 He who had embraced 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.059 the promise 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:15.179 was about to sacrifice 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.459 his one and only son. 00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.719 Even though God 00:16:17.719 --> 00:16:18.379 had said to him 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:19.399 it is through Isaac 00:16:19.399 --> 00:16:20.319 that your offspring 00:16:20.319 --> 00:16:21.240 will be reckoned. 00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.139 Abraham reasoned 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.719 that God 00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:24.860 could even raise 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:25.539 the dead 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:27.039 and so in a manner 00:16:27.039 --> 00:16:27.519 of speaking 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:28.379 he did receive 00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.959 Isaac back 00:16:28.959 --> 00:16:29.500 from the dead. 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.199 Abraham had such 00:16:32.199 --> 00:16:33.159 faith in God's 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:33.839 promise that he 00:16:33.839 --> 00:16:34.659 thought even if I 00:16:34.659 --> 00:16:35.419 have to sacrifice 00:16:35.419 --> 00:16:36.339 my son 00:16:36.339 --> 00:16:37.659 God is powerful 00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.959 enough to raise 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.779 him from the dead. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.379 And so he places 00:16:42.379 --> 00:16:43.240 the wood on his 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:44.319 son Isaac's back 00:16:44.319 --> 00:16:45.759 he takes the knife 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:47.259 and he takes the fire 00:16:47.259 --> 00:16:48.579 and they begin 00:16:48.579 --> 00:16:49.480 ascending this hill. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.399 And then we hear 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.039 this question 00:16:52.039 --> 00:16:52.639 from Isaac 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.440 a very reasonable 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.039 question 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:55.860 where is the lamb 00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:57.139 for the burnt 00:16:57.139 --> 00:16:57.480 offering? 00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.820 And so in our 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:00.779 NIV translation 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.700 what I read 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.279 earlier it says 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.100 Abraham responded 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:04.059 God himself 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.880 will provide 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.400 a lamb 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:05.900 for the burnt 00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.319 offering. 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.039 And it's interesting 00:17:08.039 --> 00:17:08.740 if we look in the 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.460 original language 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.259 in the Hebrew here 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.279 how this word 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:11.799 provide 00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.620 is actually 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:13.240 what Hebrew 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.240 word this is. 00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.740 It's actually 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.400 the verb 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.140 to see. 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.900 And so as you 00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:19.580 translate this 00:17:19.580 --> 00:17:20.200 sentence there's 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:20.600 really two 00:17:20.600 --> 00:17:21.040 different ways 00:17:21.040 --> 00:17:21.900 you can translate 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.860 it and both 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:23.580 it kind of gives 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:24.000 it a double 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.660 meaning which I 00:17:24.660 --> 00:17:25.360 think is intended 00:17:25.360 --> 00:17:26.220 here because 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:27.120 Abraham says 00:17:27.120 --> 00:17:28.480 God will provide 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.259 for himself 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:29.880 the lamb 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:32.300 or God 00:17:32.300 --> 00:17:33.140 will see to 00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.600 it the lamb 00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:35.460 for the sacrifice. 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:37.860 And so as 00:17:37.860 --> 00:17:38.480 readers of this 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.180 passage now we 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.500 see the richness 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.680 of this exchange 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:42.360 because this is 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.220 really the only 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.000 time the only 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.759 recorded dialogue 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.440 we see between 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.560 Abraham and Isaac 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.480 in all of 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:47.839 Genesis. 00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.460 And what 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:50.079 Abraham is 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:50.579 saying it's 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.839 foreshadowing not 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:52.359 only what's going 00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.980 to happen in the 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.779 minutes ahead but 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.759 also in generations 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:55.259 to come. 00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.639 God will provide 00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.500 yes he will a 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:58.579 lamb for the 00:17:58.579 --> 00:17:58.879 altar. 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:00.919 But God is also 00:18:00.919 --> 00:18:02.019 a God who sees 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:03.700 and he sees 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:04.519 into the future 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.839 and he sees 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.839 his own son who 00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:07.980 he will provide 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:09.079 as a 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.179 substitutionary 00:18:10.179 --> 00:18:11.139 sacrifice for 00:18:11.139 --> 00:18:11.639 his people. 00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.639 And so that 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.799 question that Isaac 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.859 asked where is 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.399 the lamb 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.300 we look to 00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:17.580 the New 00:18:17.580 --> 00:18:18.220 Testament and 00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:18.720 we see it 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.140 answered. 00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:21.160 In the gospel 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.100 of John John 00:18:22.100 --> 00:18:22.980 the Baptist is 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:23.720 by the Jordan 00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.280 River and he 00:18:24.280 --> 00:18:25.100 sees Jesus 00:18:25.100 --> 00:18:25.860 coming to him 00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.240 and what does 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.640 he say? 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.480 He says behold 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.240 the lamb of 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:30.880 God who takes 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:31.780 away the sins 00:18:31.780 --> 00:18:32.940 of the world. 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:34.740 Certainly 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.920 Abraham didn't 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:36.840 even understand 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.240 then the 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.100 significance of 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:38.600 this statement 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.060 that he's 00:18:39.060 --> 00:18:40.019 making but he 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:40.940 continues on 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:41.460 in obedience. 00:18:42.580 --> 00:18:43.019 And so this 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:43.840 narration now 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:44.980 that's just sped 00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.360 through these 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.899 three days of 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:46.419 travel it 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.919 slows to a 00:18:47.919 --> 00:18:49.039 crawl when we 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.399 reach the 00:18:49.399 --> 00:18:50.740 climax of this 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.279 passage. 00:18:52.479 --> 00:18:53.379 Listen to every 00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:54.159 detail that it 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.479 gives. 00:18:55.959 --> 00:18:56.719 In verse 9 00:18:56.719 --> 00:18:57.759 when they 00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:58.179 reached the 00:18:58.179 --> 00:18:58.919 place God 00:18:58.919 --> 00:18:59.439 had told him 00:18:59.439 --> 00:19:01.179 about Abraham 00:19:01.179 --> 00:19:02.000 built an altar 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:04.059 he arranged the 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:04.579 wood on it 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.339 he bound his 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.039 son Isaac 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.839 he laid him 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.379 on the altar 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:11.419 on top of the 00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:11.659 wood 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:13.500 then he 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:13.980 reached out 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:14.519 his hand 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:16.060 and took 00:19:16.060 --> 00:19:16.600 the knife 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:17.380 to slay 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.360 his son. 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:20.900 And it's 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.420 here that 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.220 scene 3 00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.960 bursts into 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:25.480 that we see 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:26.279 this provision 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.840 that's provided. 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.880 The angel of the 00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.480 Lord called out 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:30.820 to him from 00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.480 heaven Abraham 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.480 Abraham do 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.000 not lay a 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.519 hand on the 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.519 boy do 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:34.840 not do 00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:35.580 anything to 00:19:35.580 --> 00:19:36.360 him now I 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:37.000 know that you 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:37.460 fear God 00:19:37.460 --> 00:19:37.880 because you 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:38.240 have not 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:38.880 withheld from 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.680 me your 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:40.779 son your 00:19:40.779 --> 00:19:41.519 only son. 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:43.879 And Abraham 00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.539 looked up and 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:44.940 there in the 00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.539 thicket he saw 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:46.339 a ram caught 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:46.920 in the horns 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.839 by its horns 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.839 and he went 00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:49.379 over and took 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.899 the ram and 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:50.819 sacrificed it as 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:51.440 a burnt offering 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:52.079 instead of his 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.299 son. 00:19:54.899 --> 00:19:55.740 I'm sure all of 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.099 us have had 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:57.599 experience in a 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.639 literacy class of 00:19:58.639 --> 00:20:00.420 some form or 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:01.240 fashion in 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.399 school or in 00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:04.099 university and 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.559 it may be that 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.319 you read short 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.000 stories and you 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.619 have to analyze 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.339 them and your 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.980 teacher or 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.579 professor wants 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.559 you to answer 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.119 questions. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:10.579 Who's the 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.240 main character? 00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:12.419 What is a 00:20:12.419 --> 00:20:13.099 conflict that 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:13.480 the character 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:13.960 faces? 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:14.939 What do they 00:20:14.939 --> 00:20:15.659 learn or how 00:20:15.659 --> 00:20:16.220 do they grow 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:16.599 through this 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.059 conflict? 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.659 And what can 00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:19.559 we learn from 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.000 this main 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.399 character? 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.379 Maybe we may 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:24.519 think about this 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.159 passage in a 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:25.919 similar way that 00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:26.879 is this is kind 00:20:26.879 --> 00:20:27.299 of just a 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:28.059 self-contained 00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:28.980 fable that we're 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.599 supposed to kind 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:30.579 of draw some 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.480 conclusions from. 00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:32.879 And if we kind 00:20:32.879 --> 00:20:33.299 of have that 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.960 mindset and we 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.939 think well okay 00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:35.899 Abraham's the main 00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:36.919 character here and 00:20:36.919 --> 00:20:38.500 the conflict was 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:40.059 this test that God 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.480 had given him and 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.119 we see that he 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:43.039 learns that he 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.579 needs to have 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:44.279 more faith and 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:44.960 if he has enough 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.940 faith then everything 00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:46.639 will turn out all 00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:46.819 right. 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.259 So we then have to 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:48.899 have the faith like 00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.519 Abraham right? 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.240 Maybe you've even 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.039 heard this passage 00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:52.759 preached in a 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.359 similar fashion 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.379 before and not 00:20:54.379 --> 00:20:54.899 that we want to 00:20:54.899 --> 00:20:55.819 discredit the faith 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:56.799 that Abraham shows 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.659 in this passage but 00:20:57.659 --> 00:20:58.480 I think if that is 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.819 our focus if that is 00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.559 our own takeaway 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.139 then we have 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:02.440 cheapened what this 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.359 passage is showing 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:05.480 to us because we 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:06.079 need to see it in 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:08.199 the context of all 00:21:08.199 --> 00:21:09.159 the Bible the 00:21:09.159 --> 00:21:10.519 context of redemptive 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.039 history. 00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.359 See here Abraham 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:13.299 really isn't the 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.039 main character in 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:14.599 this passage. 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.579 It's not the one 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.259 that the people of 00:21:18.259 --> 00:21:18.939 Israel would have 00:21:18.939 --> 00:21:20.759 identified with when 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:21.319 they heard this 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:22.399 story over and over 00:21:22.399 --> 00:21:22.779 again. 00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.059 You see in Hebrew 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.740 this story was 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.619 historically called 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.740 the binding of 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.179 Isaac. 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:29.659 It's Isaac's life 00:21:29.659 --> 00:21:31.139 and death that's 00:21:31.139 --> 00:21:32.199 the heart that's at 00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:32.859 the heart of this 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.220 plot. 00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:35.000 And so the 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:35.700 people of Israel 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.200 they would have 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.160 identified with 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:38.160 Isaac because it 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.660 was with Isaac that 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:41.059 their very existence 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.539 hung in the balance. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.480 Because with no 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.180 Isaac there is no 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:46.960 nation of Israel. 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.980 With no Isaac there 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.960 is no covenant 00:21:49.960 --> 00:21:50.559 promise. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.319 And so with Isaac we 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.160 see this symbolic 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.759 figure and then it 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:56.900 is God who is the 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:57.460 main character. 00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.680 It is God who is the 00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.620 protagonist because 00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:00.480 he's the one who 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:00.839 tests. 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.140 He's the one who 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.680 sees. 00:22:02.680 --> 00:22:03.680 He's the one who 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.200 provides. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:05.500 And he's the one who 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.160 fulfills his promise. 00:22:08.820 --> 00:22:09.519 And so I want us to 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.259 think then about who 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.980 this he really is 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.920 because this is easily 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.440 overlooked. 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.440 At the beginning of 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.320 our passage in verse 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:16.980 1 it talks about God 00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.200 coming to Abraham. 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.160 In the Hebrew it's 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.660 Elohim. 00:22:20.420 --> 00:22:21.660 Elohim comes to 00:22:21.660 --> 00:22:22.039 Abraham. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.460 But yet in verse 10 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.160 as Abraham raises up 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.380 his knife it says an 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.660 angel of the Lord 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:29.720 called out from heaven. 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.560 Literally in the Hebrew 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.579 it's this messenger 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.379 of Yahweh. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.799 And so notice how 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.019 this messenger speaks. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.980 He doesn't say I 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.980 know you fear God 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.819 because you haven't 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.819 withheld your son from 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.339 God. 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:44.419 He says I know you 00:22:44.419 --> 00:22:45.259 fear God because you 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.039 haven't withheld your 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:47.019 son from me. 00:22:48.659 --> 00:22:50.019 So how is it that this 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.039 messenger of God can 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.799 speak in the first 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:52.179 person? 00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.159 Well there's elsewhere 00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:54.899 in the Old Testament 00:22:54.899 --> 00:22:55.759 that we see this 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.139 messenger of God come 00:22:57.139 --> 00:22:58.000 to God's people. 00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:58.879 Actually we only have 00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.660 to go back a few 00:22:59.660 --> 00:23:00.900 chapters to Genesis 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:02.680 16 where we see 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.680 this encounter between 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.860 the messenger of God 00:23:04.860 --> 00:23:06.440 and this woman Hagar. 00:23:07.540 --> 00:23:08.780 Hagar became pregnant 00:23:08.780 --> 00:23:09.660 by Abraham. 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:10.840 She was abused by 00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:11.860 Abraham's wife Sarah 00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:13.020 and now she has fled 00:23:13.020 --> 00:23:14.020 to the desert. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.020 And it says that an 00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:16.880 angel of the Lord 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.980 found her by a spring 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:18.780 of water and says 00:23:18.780 --> 00:23:20.060 to her I will increase 00:23:20.060 --> 00:23:21.040 your descendants so 00:23:21.040 --> 00:23:21.860 much they can't be 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:22.160 counted. 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:24.620 He goes on to say 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:26.060 Yahweh has heard 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:27.419 of your affliction. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.940 So how is it that 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.940 this messenger can 00:23:30.940 --> 00:23:32.200 speak on behalf 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:33.480 of Yahweh but also 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.859 personally extend 00:23:34.859 --> 00:23:35.940 a blessing that 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.740 sounds very much 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:38.419 similar to what God 00:23:38.419 --> 00:23:39.679 had said to Abraham. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.319 Right after this we 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.480 see Hagar's response 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:43.819 too. 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.859 She says to the 00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.740 messenger, she calls 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.980 the messenger, you 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:48.139 are God. 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:49.419 You are the God who 00:23:49.419 --> 00:23:50.139 sees me. 00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:53.460 Again this word, 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.740 this Greek verb for 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:56.220 see or provide is the 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.039 same root that she 00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.000 uses here, the same 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.039 one that Abraham says 00:23:59.039 --> 00:23:59.599 to Isaac. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.839 And so we see the 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:04.039 significance of this 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.960 story because this 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.559 messenger, how does it 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:09.680 work out that he can 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:10.799 identify himself with 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:11.500 God, can give a 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.440 blessing similar to 00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.720 God, yet is distinct 00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.660 from God? 00:24:16.279 --> 00:24:17.640 From this story and 00:24:17.640 --> 00:24:18.599 others we can see 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:19.779 that this messenger of 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:23.019 God is the pre-incarnate 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.099 son of God. 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.259 Jesus. 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.759 This is Jesus who is 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.940 interacting as a second 00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.940 person of the Trinity 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:31.299 working in tandem with 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:32.519 the Father, communicating 00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.500 to God's people. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.120 And so this makes the 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:36.920 story all the more 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:37.900 significance because we 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.000 see this is the voice 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.380 of Jesus speaking to 00:24:41.380 --> 00:24:43.099 Abraham, renewing his 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:44.680 promise that God had 00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.240 given to him. 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:46.960 And so look at verse 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.839 16, he says, I swear by 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.000 myself declares the Lord 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:52.180 that because you have 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.120 done this and not 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:54.159 withheld your son from 00:24:54.159 --> 00:24:55.959 me, your only son, I 00:24:55.959 --> 00:24:57.000 will surely bless you 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.119 and make your 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.119 descendants as numerous 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.379 as the stars in the 00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:02.319 sky and as the sand 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:02.979 on the seashore. 00:25:03.079 --> 00:25:03.919 Your descendants will 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:05.019 take possession of the 00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:05.939 cities of their enemies 00:25:05.939 --> 00:25:07.659 and through your 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:09.339 offspring all nations on 00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.279 earth will be blessed 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.639 because you have 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.179 obeyed me. 00:25:13.459 --> 00:25:14.979 This is the voice of 00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:17.139 Jesus talking about 00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:18.759 what he is going to do 00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.920 in the future. 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.660 He is the offspring. 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.700 This singular noun used 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.900 in the Hebrew, he is the 00:25:25.900 --> 00:25:27.980 one person who will come 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:30.720 to see the blessing being 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.799 proclaimed to the nations. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.539 And so it's no surprise 00:25:34.539 --> 00:25:35.619 then as we look at how 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.960 Isaac is described over 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.640 and over again in this 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:39.160 passage, ten times it 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:41.940 calls Isaac the son, the 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:43.619 only son, the beloved 00:25:43.619 --> 00:25:44.059 son. 00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:46.659 Does that not sound 00:25:46.659 --> 00:25:48.240 familiar to how Jesus 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:50.039 is described in the 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.539 New Testament? 00:25:51.419 --> 00:25:52.539 If we think back again 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.599 to this encounter that 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.759 Jesus has with John the 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.559 Baptist at the Jordan 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:57.480 River, in the Gospels it 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.779 recounts how John 00:25:58.779 --> 00:26:00.639 baptizes Jesus and when 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.980 Jesus comes out of that 00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:02.859 water a voice from 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:04.559 heaven says, this is my 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.839 beloved son with whom I 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:06.579 am well pleased. 00:26:08.639 --> 00:26:09.720 Possibly the most famous 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.740 verse in the Bible, John 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:12.659 3, 16, for God so loved 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.799 the world that he gave his 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:17.220 only begotten son, that 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.139 whoever believes in him 00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:19.919 will not perish but have 00:26:19.919 --> 00:26:20.799 everlasting life. 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:22.220 This is the exact same 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.700 language that is used to 00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.440 describe Isaac, is used 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.839 to describe the coming 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.980 Savior, Jesus. 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.559 And so we see here 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:31.259 though that even though 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:33.059 Isaac is a type of Christ 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.139 in the Old Testament, 00:26:34.220 --> 00:26:35.039 there's clear difference 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:35.819 between the two. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.980 Because we know that 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:39.240 Jesus died on the cross 00:26:39.240 --> 00:26:41.019 here, Isaac does not die 00:26:41.019 --> 00:26:41.720 on that altar. 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:44.259 Instead a lamb is 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:45.480 provided for him in the 00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:45.839 thicket. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.059 And it's because of this 00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:50.400 provision, because of this 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.480 lamb that's provided that 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.720 Mount Moriah becomes known 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:54.720 as the place where the 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.779 Lord will provide. 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.259 And it's interesting then, 00:26:58.319 --> 00:27:00.160 as we move through the 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:02.140 Old Testament, we see this 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:02.960 mountain hold great 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.500 significance. 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.360 We can continue on further 00:27:06.360 --> 00:27:08.140 to 2 Chronicles 3. 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:10.640 And we hear the story of 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:12.020 King David who is trying 00:27:12.020 --> 00:27:13.420 to take the census of his 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:16.100 people, maybe for his own 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.980 pride, to see what a 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.320 powerful army and kingdom 00:27:18.320 --> 00:27:19.020 he has. 00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:20.880 And as a result, an angel of 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:23.360 Lord comes and strikes down 00:27:23.360 --> 00:27:24.360 many in Jerusalem. 00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:27.140 And it says that David lifts 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:28.600 up his eyes and he sees this 00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.700 angel standing on this very 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:32.000 mountain with an outstretched 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.720 sword over Jerusalem. 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:36.700 And it's there that says that 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:39.039 David built an altar and 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.279 offered a burnt offering 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:40.920 sacrifice. 00:27:41.880 --> 00:27:43.559 And it was here on this very 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.700 mountain that a generation 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:46.860 later Solomon would build the 00:27:46.860 --> 00:27:47.160 temple. 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.640 The temple that would be the 00:27:49.640 --> 00:27:50.920 place of sacrifice. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:54.400 The killing of animals for the 00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:55.819 forgiveness of sins for God's 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.100 people. 00:27:58.299 --> 00:28:00.019 And it was on this same 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:02.240 mountain that became known as 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.860 Mount Zion. 00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:05.720 It's where we have the 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:08.420 Savior Jesus who is convicted 00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.380 and condemned. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.339 Who is our sinless substitute. 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:16.160 Who is crucified. 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.880 And so it is on this mountain 00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:20.740 where Abraham raised this knife 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:22.059 over his son Isaac. 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:23.279 It's on this mountain where the 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:25.700 angel of God holds a sword over 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.120 Jerusalem. 00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:28.360 It's the same mountain where the 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:30.140 knife of the priest would have 00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:32.319 killed countless animals for the 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.299 forgiveness of sins. 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:35.500 It is at the same place where the 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.059 knife of God's divine judgment 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:39.700 find its mark on his only son, 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:40.339 Jesus. 00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:45.740 It was right near this mount where 00:28:45.740 --> 00:28:47.940 the sinless substitute, Jesus, our 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:50.259 Savior, carried his own wood for 00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.879 his altar. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.359 That rugged cross to a place where 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:57.259 he would willingly suffer and die and 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:59.359 take the penalty for your sin and 00:28:59.359 --> 00:28:59.859 for mine. 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:05.699 A perfect sacrifice as a substitute for 00:29:05.699 --> 00:29:07.019 needy sinners like you and me. 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:11.619 You see, what Abraham was not required 00:29:11.619 --> 00:29:14.559 to do to his one and only beloved son, 00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:19.919 God willingly does to his one and only 00:29:19.919 --> 00:29:21.139 beloved son. 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:24.620 And so this is not a story about some sick 00:29:24.620 --> 00:29:27.420 and twisted God who demands human sacrifice. 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:30.620 This is a story of a loving and gracious 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:34.780 God who offers his son as a sacrifice in our 00:29:34.780 --> 00:29:35.200 place. 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:39.960 You may ask, well, why do we need a sacrifice 00:29:39.960 --> 00:29:40.500 at all? 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:45.140 And it's because of the character of God. 00:29:46.079 --> 00:29:49.140 We have a God who is both holy and just. 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:52.200 And we have a people who is sinful. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:54.960 In our sinfulness, we are separated from 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.660 God's holiness. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:58.259 Because of his justice, he cannot overlook 00:29:58.259 --> 00:29:58.960 our sin. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:02.960 The penalty for sin is death. 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:07.279 A sacrifice is necessary. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:10.920 But a substitute is acceptable. 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:15.059 And this is what we see demonstrated to 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:16.839 Abraham in this passage. 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:21.059 This covenant promise that was given to 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:24.680 Abraham was not threatened by this test. 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:27.519 It was confirmed. 00:30:28.339 --> 00:30:30.519 And it was continued through his son Isaac 00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:33.059 and finds its fulfillment in Jesus. 00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:36.220 And so this is what Paul talks about in 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.039 Galatians 3. 00:30:37.180 --> 00:30:39.640 He says that in Jesus, the blessing of 00:30:39.640 --> 00:30:42.000 Abraham came to all so that we might 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:44.000 receive the promised spirit through faith. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:47.640 The blessing of Abraham is the blessing for 00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:49.319 you and for me today. 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:53.640 It is a blessing received through faith in 00:30:53.640 --> 00:30:54.120 Christ. 00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:57.680 It says in Genesis 15 that Abraham believed 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:59.940 the Lord and it was credited to him as 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:00.400 righteousness. 00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:03.019 The same is true for you and me today. 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:05.259 Do you receive this blessing? 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:09.079 Do you understand that it is you and I who 00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:11.000 deserve to be on that altar? 00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:16.120 But a perfect substitute has taken our place. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:19.579 If you do believe this, if you are in Christ, 00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:22.880 then remember what we read earlier from Romans 8. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.579 Romans 8.31. 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:27.880 It is, if God is for us, who can be against us? 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:30.380 He who did not spare his own son. 00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:33.500 That's the same language that's used in Genesis 22. 00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:36.400 Paul is certainly thinking about this illustration as he 00:31:36.400 --> 00:31:37.140 writes this letter. 00:31:37.539 --> 00:31:40.339 He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us 00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:43.960 all, how will he not also along with him graciously give us 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:45.160 all things? 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:52.099 We know that if God is willing to give us the ultimate gift of 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:57.220 his son, that he will continue to do complete his work of 00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.880 redemption in our lives. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:03.980 And so even in our darkness and even in our pain and even in our 00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:08.760 suffering, we can be sure that we have a faithful and trustworthy God 00:32:08.760 --> 00:32:10.860 who keeps his promises. 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.620 Do not doubt his love. 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:18.300 He is a God who sees and he is a God who provides. 00:32:19.800 --> 00:32:20.380 Let's pray. 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:27.840 Lord, we thank you for the truth. 00:32:27.840 --> 00:32:28.680 We thank you for the truth.