Decide to obey God

Genesis 22:1-14
Related Sunday School Lesson, Family Bible Series, May 22

Genesis 22 contains one of the greatest stories in the entire world of literature. It is a story of intense human drama and victorious faith. All who read it are challenged to trust and obey our faithful God.

Remain ready to obey God Genesis 22:1-2

Genesis 22 records the greatest test of faith that Abraham encountered in his life. He had believed God to leave his homeland and journey to the land that God would give to him. He had believed God to receive a child when he and Sarah were of old age. In this story he is called upon to do the unthinkable. God called for Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. This appears to be such a cruel demand from God.

Why had God given him Isaac to only ask for him as an offering after Isaac was grown and Abraham had come to love him so dearly? The narrator of the story tells us that God is testing Abraham. This is information the reader has at the beginning of the story that Abraham did not have. Abraham only knew that he has been called to offer his beloved son as a sacrifice to God.

The statements in verse two demand our attention. Abraham's offering of his beloved son foreshadows the Father offering his beloved Son for our sins (John 3:16). Abraham was told to go into the land of Moriah to one of the mountains that God would show him for this sacrifice. Many Bible teachers believe this mountain to be what was later the site of Solomon's Temple (2 Chron. 3:1). Today it is the site of the Dome of the Rock, a holy place in Islam.

Abraham had been called to follow God to an undisclosed location that he might receive great blessings (Gen. 12:1). This time Abraham was to go to a mountain that God would show him to sacrifice his son. Abraham was specifically instructed to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

The burnt offering was killed and then the body was burned with the smoke ascending up to God while the body was consumed in the fire. How could God ask Abraham to do such a thing? While human sacrifice was practiced among the Canaanites, it was unthinkable that God would require such a thing.

Obey in faith, Genesis 22:3-8

The Bible does not describe the emotional struggles of Abraham. It only records his faithful obedience to the command of God. Genesis 22:3 tells us that he arose early in the morning to carry out God's instructions. We can only imagine what went on in his heart during the night. The trip from Beersheba to the appointed mountain was a three-day journey (22:4).

These had to be three agonizing days for Abraham as he thought about what he would have to do when he arrived at the appointed mountain. Evidently Abraham had not discussed his plans with those who traveled with him. It is very possible that he had not even shared them with Sarah.

Upon arriving at the place where the sacrifice took place, Abraham instructed the young men who accompanied them to remain behind while he and Isaac went to the place of worship. Abraham told the young men that he and Isaac would go worship and return. How could Abraham say that they would return from the worship? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:17-19.

There we are told that Abraham concluded that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead. All of God's promises to Abraham depended on Isaac living to have children. God had kept all of his promises to Abraham. Abraham concluded that God would continue to keep those promises even if he had to raise Isaac from the dead.

This is incredible faith! No one had been raised from the dead at this point in human history. Abraham displayed complete trust in the faithfulness and power of God.

As Abraham and Isaac journeyed to the place of sacrifice, Isaac asked his father about the lamb for the burnt offering. Isaac did not know that he was to be the sacrifice. Abraham replied that God would provide the lamb for the burnt offering. While the full significance of this statement might be difficult to comprehend, it is obvious that Abraham was fully convinced that God would take care of this situation.

Experience God's blessings, Genesis 22:9-14

After building the altar, Abraham bound his son and placed him upon that altar. What did they discuss during this time? Isaac's faith and obedience to his father and to God are also incredible. Isaac was a young man who could have escaped if he had chosen to do so.

The suspense in this story reaches a climax when Abraham took the knife to slay his son. At that moment God called to Abraham. As had always been the case in Abraham's life, he responded immediately. God then spoke the sweetest words that Abraham could possibly have heard.

God told him not to slay his son and told Abraham that he had fully proven his devotion to God. Abraham then looked to see a ram caught in the thicket. Abraham and Isaac offered that ram in worship and then returned home. They named that mountain The-Lord-Will-Provide for he had truly provided the sacrifice for that day. The anguish of the previous days had been replaced with unspeakable joy.

Abraham had truly demonstrated his faith through his works (James 2:21-23). His faithful obedience challenges all of us to trust and obey our faithful God.