Genesis 22
God tests Abrahamverses 1-2
And it came to pass after these things – that God did test Abraham
and said to him – Abraham
And he said
BEHOLD – here I am
And HE said
Take now your son – your ONLY son Isaac – whom you love
and get you into the land of Moriah
and OFFER him there for a BURNT OFFERING
on one of the mountains which
I will tell you of
Abraham trusted that Isaac would returnverses 3-5
And Abraham rose up EARLY in the morning – and saddled his ass
and took two of his young men with him – and Isaac his son
and cut the wood for the burnt offering – and rose up
and went to the place of which God had told him
THEN on the THIRD DAY Abraham lifted up his eyes
and saw the place afar off
And Abraham said to his young men
Abide you here with the ass
and I and the LAD will go yonder and WORSHIP
and come again to you
Isaac asks his father regarding the offeringverses 6-7
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering
and laid it on Isaac his son
and he took the FIRE in his hand – and a KNIFE
and they went both of them together
And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father – and said
My father – and he said – Here I am – my son
And he said
BEHOLD the fire and the wood
BUT where is the LAMB for the burnt offering?
Abraham replies to Isaacverse 8
And Abraham said
My son – God will PROVIDE HIMSELF a LAMB
for a burnt offering
so they went both of them together
Abraham at point of sacrificing Isaacverses 9-11
And they came to the place which God had told him of
and Abraham built an ALTAR there
and laid the wood in order
and BOUND Isaac – his son
and laid him on the ALTAR on the wood
And Abraham stretched forth his hand
and took the KNIFE to SLAY his son
And the ANGEL of the LORD called to him out of heaven
and said
Abraham – Abraham
And he said
Here am I
LORD tells Abraham not to sacrifice Isaacverse 12
And HE said
Lay not your hand on the lad
neither do you anything to him
FOR now I know that you fear God
seeing you have not withheld your son
your ONLY son from ME
Jehovah- jireh [LORD will provide]verses 13-14
And Abraham lifted up his eyes – and looked
and behold behind him a ram
caught in a thicket by his horns
and Abraham went and took the ram
and offered him up for a burnt offering
IN THE STEAD of his son
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah – jireh
as it is said to this day
In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen
LORD blesses Abraham because of obedienceverses 15-18
And the ANGEL of the LORD called to Abraham
out of heaven a SECOND time – and said
By MYSELF have I sworn – said the LORD
for because you have done this thing
and have not withheld your son
your ONLY son
That in blessing I will bless you
in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the
STARS of the heaven and as the SAND
which is on the seashore
And your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies
and in your seed shall all the NATIONS of the earth
be BLESSED
BECAUSE you have OBEYED MY VOICE
Return to Beershebaverse 19
So Abraham returned to his young men
and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba
And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba
Relatives of Abraham include Rebekahverses 20-24
And it came to pass after these things – that it was told Abraham saying
BEHOLD – Milcah – she has also born children to
your BROTHER Nahor
Huz – his first-born – Buz – his brother
and Kemuel – the father of Aram
Chesed – Hazo – Pildash – Jidlaph – Bethuel
And Bethuel begot Rebekah – these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor
Abraham’s BROTHER
And his concubine – whose name was Reumah – she bore also
Tebah – Gaham – Tahash – Maacah
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. (5254 “tempt” [nacah] means try, prove, assay, test, exercise, train, venture, or adventure)
DEVOTION: Abraham was one who had a problem trusting God on occasions. He make Sarah tell others that she was his sister to protect himself from being killed. He laughed at God saying that he would have a son. He had to be tested regarding his trust and obedience to the LORD.
Does God every send a exercise our way that would cause us to sin? The answer is always NO!! God never tries to make us sin. HE wants us to trust and obey HIM.
The only way that HE could show Abraham that he could trust HIM was for HIM to give him a test to prove that obedience to the LORD was always right even to the point where he killed his only son. Abraham, we are told in the New Testament, believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. He believed God’s promise that in Isaac his seed would be blessed. He was learning the hard way to trust the LORD.
Once God called on Abraham to do something, he did it. He was willing to do anything for the LORD. He said “Here am I.” Are we willing to be trained by the LORD in the area of trust and obedience? Is HE testing us now regarding our faithfulness to HIM?
God might ask us to do something that is extraordinary. Are we going to be available to HIM?
CHALLENGE: When God calls what will your answer be? Will it be “Here am I” or Wait LORD let us talk about this request you are making of me?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (4984 “lifted up” [mithnasse’] means exalted, to raise, to bring, to direct one’s gaze upwards, or to cast the eyes upon any person or thing)
DEVOTION: The third day becomes important throughout the Word of God. It was on the third day that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus was described as the ONLY BEGOTTEN of the Father.
In this chapter it is mentioned three times that Isaac was Abraham’s only son. We know that Abraham had Ishmael with Hagar but from the perspective of God Isaac was the son of promise. HE had told Abraham that through Isaac his seed would bless the whole earth. That blessing was looking forward to the coming of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world.
All those who put their trust in Jesus Christ through repentance and confession of sin will spend eternity in heaven with HIM. This is a blessing that nothing in this world can match. Every nation of the world is going to be represented in heaven. No one will have any excuse when they stand before the Great White Throne Judgment and say I never had an opportunity to repent of my sins and turn to follow Jesus Christ.
This test of Abraham was foreshadowing of the coming sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross with God the Father looking on to see it happen. God allowed Jesus to die for our sins because of HIS love for all the humans in the world. Everyone has an opportunity because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son and the LORD knew it but it was a test to show Abraham how much faith and trust he had in the LORD.
What are we willing to sacrifice for the LORD if HE asks us?
My family is one area where it would be a real test as to whether I would be willing to give them up for the LORD. I think I would, but it would be a real test of my faith and trust in the LORD.
CHALLENGE: How about you?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 And he said, Lay not your hand on the lad, neither do you anything to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me. (3373 “fear” [yare] means reverent, afraid, revere, or frightened)
DEVOTION: If you only had one child would you be willing to give him/her to God? Here we have a promised son and Abraham was tested to see if he was willing to give him back to God. Isaac was the child of promise. Isaac was a child of his old age. It seems like a lot for God to test him in this way. But that is what the LORD did.
There are many significant comparisons between Isaac and the LORD Jesus Christ. HE was the ONLY son of God. The third day was HIS resurrection day. HE was an offering for our sins. The Father was willing to sacrifice HIS Son.
The real test of our faith has to do with our family. One of the things that any Biblical parent would hate to do is allow their children to suffer. Any Biblical parent would want to spare their children any suffering, even though, they know that their children learn through suffering.
God had asked Abraham to take his only son to a mountain and offer him as a burnt offering. Abraham obeyed the LORD. The New Testament tells us that God could have raised Isaac from the dead if Abraham had offered him up as a sacrifice.
Here we see that Abraham reverenced God and HIS word to him. He obeyed to the point of being willing to offer his son to God. The Angel of the LORD, who is the pre-incarnate Christ, stopped him but part of the test was for Abraham to realize how important God wanted him to place HIMSELF in his life.
Sometimes we place our children or someone else or something else in front of God instead of the other way around. God wants to have the pre-eminence in our life before everyone and everything. Sometimes HE makes us make a choice. Too often in families a mother can place her children before her husband. This causes problems. Sometimes husbands can place things over their wife and children.
All through the Bible we find examples of God asking HIS people to make a choice between HIM and something or someone else. Why does God test us? HIS purpose is to keep us thinking of HIM first. Once we realize that if we put HIM first all other things or people will fall into their proper place. We need to keep close to the LORD. If we fail in this test, our family will suffer. Our relationship to the LORD is the key to a happy home, church and nation.
CHALLENGE: Who is first in your life? Is the proper order of responsibly followed in your home: husband, wife, and children? Are we allowing men called of God to lead the church?
: 14 And Abraham called the name of the place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. ( 3070 “ Jehovah-jireh” [Yahovah, yireh] means the LORD will provide, Jehovah sees, Jehovah understands, Jehovah reveals, or Jehovah shows)
DEVOTION: Earlier in the chapter Isaac asked his father a question regarding the sacrifice they were about to offer to the LORD. He saw the wood, the fire, the knife but he didn’t see a lamb. He was used to his father offering sacrifices to the LORD. He knew that usually it involved an animal. He was just wondering what was going on at this time.
His father, Abraham, answered him in a wise manner. He told Isaac that the LORD would provide HIMSELF a sacrifice. It was an unusual answer but Isaac accepted the answer and continued going up the mountain.
There had to be a real question when the altar was put together and he was on top of the altar. He saw his father raise his hand with the knife in it to strike him. It had to be a very obedient son to allow his father to even get him on the altar.
Then he saw that the LORD did provide a sacrifice animal for the offering to the LORD. HE provided a ram to be offered. Isaac was spared because it was a test that his father passed regarding trusting and obeying the LORD.
He had to learn a lesson that day as well. He was willing to let his father kill him for a sacrifice to the LORD. He was obedient. He trusted his father to do the right thing.
Do we trust our heavenly Father enough to know that HE will always do the right thing even when we are placed on the altar for a sacrifice?
CHALLENGE: We are commanded to be living sacrifices for the LORD. Obedience is key at any age.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Sacrifice of sonverse 2
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Conversation with Godverse 1
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Burnt offeringverse 2, 3, 6-8, 12, 13
Lamb
Only son
Ram
Abraham worshiping Godverse 5
Altar builtverse 9
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God (Elohim)verses 1, 3, 8, 9, 12
God told Abraham where to goverse 3
Jehovah – jireh (LORD will provide)verse 14
Mount of the LORDverse 14
LORD (Jehovah)verses 14, 16
Blessing given to Abrahamverse 17
Multiply seed as stars of heaven and as sand is upon sea shore
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God will provide HIMSELFverse 8
Angel of the LORDverses 11-15
Abraham, Abraham
Lay not your hand on the lad
I know that you fear God
Spoke a second time
By myself have I sworn”verse 16
I knowverse 12
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angel stopped Abraham from killing Isaacverse 11
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Abrahamverses 1-20
Tried (tempted) by God
Here am I
Loved Isaac
Took Isaac to a place God told
Third day
Built altar
Bound Isaac
Laid Isaac on altar
Stretched forth his hand to kill Isaac
Angel stopped him
Not withheld only son from LORD
Ram offered instead of Isaac
Place called “Jehovah-jireh
All nations blessed in him
Obey voice of LORD
Only son: Isaacverses 2, 12, 16
Offer as burnt offering
Ask father concerning lamb
Only son
Love of childrenverse 2
Mount Moriahverse 2
Sacrifice on THIRD DAYverse 4
Only son
Enemiesverse 17
Beer-shebaverse 19
Nahorverses 20, 23, 24
Milcah (Nahor’s wife)verses 20-23
Born children to brother Nahor
Huz – firstborn
Buz
Kemuel – father of Aram
Chesed
Hazo
Pildash
Jidlaph
Bethuel
Bethual gave birth to Rebekahverse 23
Nahor’s concubine = Reumahverse 24
Tebah
Gaham
Thahash
Maachah
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Enemies of Godverse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Test or temptverse 1
Follow LORD’S leadingverse 3
Sacrificeverses 8-14
Fear Godverse 12
Promiseverses 16-18
Blessingverse 17
Obedienceverse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
A true worshiper of God holds nothing back from God but obediently gives Him what He asks, trusting that He will provide. The key idea of the entire passage is summarized in the name Abraham gave to the place: Yahweh Yir’eh, The Lord will provide (or, “see”; v. 14). The explanation is, On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (or, “seen,” yērā’eh, v. 14; cf. v. 8). This is the basis of a truth often repeated in the Old Testament: the Lord was to be worshiped in His holy mountain by the nation. “Three times a year all the men [of Israel] are to appear [yērā’eh, ‘be seen’] before the Sovereign Lord” to worship Him, bringing their offerings and sacrifices (Ex. 23:17; cf. Deut. 16:16). The Lord would see (rā’âh) the needs of those who came before Him, and would meet their needs. Thus in providing for them He would be “seen.” (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 65). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
God did provide the sacrifice that was needed, and a ram took Isaac’s place on the altar (Gen. 22:13). Abraham discovered a new name for God—“Jehovah-jireh”—which can be translated “The Lord will see to it” or “The Lord will be seen.” The statement “In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen” helps us understand some truths about the provision of the Lord.
Where does the Lord provide our needs? In the place of His assignment. Abraham was at the right place, so God could meet his needs. We have no right to expect the provision of God if we are not in the will of God.
When does God meet our needs? Just when we have the need and not a minute before. When you bring your requests to the throne of grace, God answers with mercy and grace “in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Sometimes it looks like God waits until the last minute to send help, but that is only from our human point of view. God is never late.
How does God provide for us? In ways that are usually quite natural. God did not send an angel with a sacrifice; He simply allowed a ram to get caught in a bush at a time when Abraham needed it and in a place where Abraham could get his hands on it. All Abraham needed was one animal, so God did not send a whole flock of sheep.
To whom does God give His provision? To those who trust Him and obey His instructions. When we are doing the will of God, we have the right to expect the provision of God. A deacon in the first church I pastored used to remind us, “When God’s work is done in God’s way, it will not lack God’s support.” God is not obligated to bless my ideas or projects, but He is obligated to support His work if it is done in His way.
Why does God provide our every need? For the great glory of His name! “Hallowed be Thy name” is the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13), and it governs all the other requests. God was glorified on Mount Moriah because Abraham and Isaac did the will of the Lord and glorified Jesus Christ. We must pause to consider this important truth. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 112–113). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 11. And the Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, &c.] Not a created angel, but the increated one, the son of God, who perhaps appeared in an human form, and spoke with an articulate voice, as he frequently did; for that this was a divine Person is clear from his swearing by himself, and renewing the promise unto Abraham, ver. 16, 17, 18: and said, Abraham, Abraham; the repeating his name denotes haste to prevent the slaughter of his son, which was just upon the point of doing, and in which Abraham was not dilatory, but ready to make quick dispatch; and therefore with the greater eagerness and vehemency the angel calls him by name, and doubles it, to raise a quick and immediate attention to him, which it did: and he said, here am I; ready to hearken to what shall be said, and to obey what should be ordered, see the note on ver. 1. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, p. 155). London: Mathews and Leigh)
Over the years Abraham had learned to trust God. He knew that God was dependable. Again and again He had declared, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” It was inconceivable therefore that Isaac could die before he had children. Even if he were to be slain, Abraham reasoned, God would have to raise him up from the dead. In that confidence in a God who is utterly dependable, Abraham went forth to his test. It was a test made no less severe by Abraham’s magnificent faith.
First, Abraham learned the way of the cross. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.” The decision having been made, it was now a matter of moving steadily forward, with aching heart, to the place. The place. How that place must have haunted Abraham’s dreams. It is mentioned again and again. The aged patriarch would look at the gentle, undulating plains around him or up at the craggy steeps. Always there would come dancing before his mind’s eye a vision of the place. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning … and went to the place.” “Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place.” “And they came to the place.” It was an echo, sounding down the unborn ages—an echo recorded by Luke 23:33: “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him.” The one place foreshadowed the other.
Thus Abraham trod the way of the cross. He saddled his ass, he summoned his servants, he sent for Isaac, he split the wood, he set forth on the way, he saw the place. Then, at last, he and Isaac came to a point beyond which the others could not go. Abraham bade his young men sit down and wait for his return and (with amazing confidence in God) for the return of the lad. “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.”
It was a dress rehearsal for Calvary. We read of the Lord Jesus that “He taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed [sorrowful] and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground and prayed” (Mark 14:33–35). There came a point in the life of the Lord beyond which even Peter and James and John could not go. Jesus went forward alone, alone with His Father to comune with Him on the way to the cross. What agonizing communion there was there beneath the shade of the olive trees, between the Father and the Son—a communion no one else could share.
The way of the cross gives way to the word of the cross (22:6–8). “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father; and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”
That was Gethsemane. We often think of what Gethsemane meant to the Lord Jesus, but what must it have meant to the Father? What must that agonizing question from Isaac’s lips have done to Abraham’s heart? What did the bloodlike sweat, the anguished tears in Gethsemane mean to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ?
“They went both of them together.” Moriah was not forced upon Isaac. He was not dragged in chains, struggling and resisting, to his Golgotha. They went together. Isaac, now a man full grown, with a mind and will of his own, walking the upward way side by side with his beloved father. Then he put the question, the awkward, probing question Abraham had been dreading all along.
The young men had been left behind the ass had been tethered. The full weight of the wood was now felt by Isaac. “Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it upon Isaac his son.” The wood had been there all the time, but now it came home to Isaac that he must bear its weight. The sudden weight of it brought home to him the part he must play in the drama looming ahead. We can see him look at his father—at that wise, old face now so drawn and strained—and in that face read something the like of which he has never seen before.
The wood was getting heavier step by step. Isaac looked again at his father, and in the old man’s hands the young man saw that which spelled his doom—in the one hand was the knife; in the other hand was the fire. The sweat stood out on Isaac’s brow. The weight he felt was his cross. He was carrying a load placed upon him by others. With the perspiration standing in beads on his brow he asked: “Where is the lamb? Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
Abraham was ready. There was no prevarication, simply astounding faith. “God will provide Himself a lamb.” He did not know how or when or where God would do it, but He would. As Isaac looked afresh at his father’s face, he may have read something there that put an end to all questions. Now he knew. If the road ahead was terrible for him, it was a thousand times worse for his father. So “they went both of them together.” The repetition of the statement after the give and take of the questions indicates that Isaac now possibly knew fully what lay ahead and that, in the glory and power of his strength, he submitted to the father’s will.
Can we not feel what Abraham felt? Can we not enter into the anguish that rent his soul? Can we not understand how much he shrank from the deed ahead? Can we not see how leaden were his feet as he dragged them toward the brow of the hill? Can we not catch the secret glance he stole at his son, his only son, his beloved, his only Isaac? Can we not hear the inward groan as he sobbed in his soul —“Oh, my son, Isaac, my son, my son Isaac. Would God I could die for thee, O Isaac, my son, my son.”
Can we not feel what God the Father felt in dark Gethsemane? “My Father!” “Here am I, My Son.” “Behold, the cup. If it be possible let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” The only answer the Father could give was to point on to the cross. No lamb could be found for His Son. So “They went the both of Them together.” Out from the stillness of the garden They went into the arms of the mob, on to the mock trials before the priests, the procurator, the Herodian prince; on to the spitting, the scourging, the scorn; on out into the morning sun, the Lord Jesus staggering beneath the weight of the wood and the even greater weight of this world’s sin as His Father watched; then on up the hill, on to the place. Both of Them together.
In Abraham’s experience there came finally the work of the cross. “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son.” With deliberate care each separate act is set down. Building the altar, bringing the wood, binding the victim, baring the knife—each act is recorded. Only when the knife was poised in the air and was falling did God stay Abraham’s hand. Who can measure what it cost Abraham to come to that last, final act, the raising of the knife to slay his son?
As he took the knife, perhaps Abraham saw in his mind a vivid picture from the past. He saw himself as a very young man. He remembered the first time he slaughtered a lamb. It may have been a lamb he had fed with his own hand; a woolly, frisky, trusting, lovable little lamb. We can imagine it coming bleating to him when he called, nuzzling against him and skipping along at his side at the end of the rope he had tied to its neck. Perhaps it had shied with fright at the smell of blood at the place where the altar had stood. It had looked up at him with trusting eyes as with unsteady hand he untied the rope. It may have been silent on the altar, its liquid eyes watching his every move, its little form quivering with fright. Perhaps he had felt like a murderer as he steeled himself to do the deed. And now he must slay his son. It was the work of the cross.
Was there ever such a dark, tragic work performed beneath the wide vault of heaven in all the ages of time or all the annals of eternity? God saw His Son led like a lamb to the slaughter, laid out upon the wood, and the spikes driven home. God watched the whole dark, dreadful business on Golgotha’s hill. Then, God Himself had taken the great knife of His own fierce wrath against sin, had lifted it up as the darkness swept in, and had wreaked on His Son the eternal hell our sins deserved. That was the work of the cross, the work enacted in type by Abraham on that lonely mountain in the land of Moriah and enacted in fact at the place called Calvary. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Genesis: An Expository Commentary (Ge 22:3–12). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Similar to Job’s trial, the patriarch chooses the Giver over the gift, relying on the Lord to make good on his promise. (Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, p. 283). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
That God “tests” (nissâ) his people is not exceptional; it is a means for revealing their obedience (e.g., Exod 15:25; 16:4; Judg 2:22), producing fear so as to engender piety (Exod 20:20; Ps 26:2), discovering their authenticity (Deut 8:2; 13:3[4]; 2 Chr 32:31), and producing their well-being (Deut 8:16). In the present case, what is revealed is that the patriarch “fears” the Lord (v. 12). The object of the test is Abraham’s proper response, which entails obedience and trust. (Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, p. 284). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
By presenting the challenge, the man could express his faith in a concrete way; now potential faith is realized, securing for the patriarch the promises God has all along ensured would come to pass (cf. Jas 2:21–23). (Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, p. 285). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
This divine request for human sacrifice is unique in Israel’s experience; the special circumstance of Abraham’s role as the father of the covenant requires a test without parallel. The rabbis argued that the testing of Abraham was not devious since God tests only those who can withstand, that is, the righteous (Ps 11:5). Similarly, God’s integrity is not questioned for his trying of Israel, and the test of Abraham is on the same level, for it is a prototype of later Israel’s trials (Gen. Rab. 55.1–3). Christian tradition, however, focuses on the fulfillment of the promises (Heb 11:17–19; Jas 2:21–23) since Isaac alone could fulfill the promises, as God himself stated (21:12), making it certain that the boy would somehow survive. Hence, the issue lay with the Lord, not Abraham, for he left it to God to resolve the theological and moral problems he himself created.(Mathews, K. A. (2005). Genesis 11:27–50:26 (Vol. 1B, p. 285). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
22:1–2. The greatest test in the life of Abraham (God tested him) came after he received the promised seed following a long wait. The test was very real: he was to give Isaac back to God. As a test it was designed to prove faith. And for it to be a real test, it had to defy logic; it had to be something Abraham wanted to resist. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The lessons about true worship are timeless: (1) Faith obeys completely the Word of God. (2) Faith surrenders the best to God, holding nothing back. (3) Faith waits on the Lord to provide all one’s needs. But God does not provide until personal sacrifice has been made. True worship is costly. This was always so for Israel when they brought sacrifices. Those offerings were supposed to be given in faith so God would provide all the needs of each willing worshiper. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
(piel) test, try, i.e., cause or allow hardship or trouble in a circumstance, often with choices within the situation, implying a different outcome is possible (Jdg 2:22) (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)
2 Chronicles 35
The Passover, unobserved for years, is reinstated.
INSIGHT: Abraham Lincoln once said, “A man’s about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.” That may be an oversimplification; yet it states a basic truth: Often we must consciously decide what we want to become. Those who grow spiritually are those who have made a conscious decision to pursue spiritual things. Josiah, one of the great kings of Judah, is a strong reformer who tries to lead the nation in righteousness. In 2 Chronicles 34:31, we read: “The king . . . made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul.” Have you ever Abraham Lincoln once said, “A man’s about as happy as he makes up his mind to be.” That may be an oversimplification; yet it states a basic truth: Often we must consciously decide what we want to become. Those who grow spiritually are those who have made a conscious decision to pursue spiritual things. Josiah, one of the great kings of Judah, is a strong reformer who tries to lead the nation in righteousness. In 2 Chronicles 34:31, we read: “The king . . . made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul.” Have you ever made the decision to follow the Lord with your whole heart? (Quiet Walk)
WHAT HAPPENS IN REVIVAL? PART 3
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. Acts 2:46-47
The next thing I notice is that the church is filled with great joy and a sense of praise. Read again the terms used toward the end of Acts chapter 2. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people.” Now that is how the Christian church is meant to be. Great joy, great praise to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God, glorying in this great salvation, in the new life they have received, and in this sense of heaven.
It is but the simple pattern of what has been repeated so frequently when God has poured out His Spirit upon the church. I never tire of quoting something I remember reading in the journals of George Whitefield. He was preaching on one occasion in Cheltenham, England, and he said, “Suddenly the Lord came down amongst us.” Do we know anything about that? Do we believe in that sort of thing or that it is possible? Now George Whitefield, even at his worst, was probably the greatest preacher this country [England] has ever known. But there were variations, even in his ministry. On this occasion he was surprised himself. There he was, preaching and having a very good service, when suddenly he knew that the Lord had come down among them. That is the wonderful thing, and it resulted in great joy, praise, and thanksgiving. When the church is in a state of revival you do not have to exhort people to praise—you cannot stop them, they are so filled with God.
A Thought to Ponder
When the church is in a state of revival you do not have to exhort people to praise—you cannot stop them. (From Revival, pp. 205-206)
Profit and Loss
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
In these materialistic days, many people have become abnormally occupied with investments and returns, capital gains and losses, balance sheets and cash flows. This is nothing new, of course. The prevalence of covetousness is so universal, in one form or another, that God had to place a prohibition on it in the Ten Commandments.
The Lord Jesus made a heart-searching comparison one day when He posed a surprising question relative to divine bookkeeping. Not even the riches of all the world could purchase one human soul, yet people often seem willing to sacrifice their souls in pursuit of riches. Is such an exchange really a sound investment? Merely to ask the question is to answer it.
Earning wealth is good if it is acquired honorably and by the will of God, but coveting wealth and hoarding wealth are foolish sins. Here is another of many divine profit-and-loss statements: “There is [he] that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is [he] that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7). The true measure of profit and loss is the balance sheet kept in heaven. One must first glean an account there, however, and this means coming to God empty-handed, on the basis of Christ’s free gift of His own riches. “Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He died for us, that we might live through Him.
Then, once our heavenly account is established, here is real investment counseling: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.…For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21)
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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