Journey to Mt. Moriah
Genesis 22:1-14
Text:
Introduction:
Everyday we all express faith in many ways.
Illustration:
If you take a prescription that has been prescribed by a doctor that is a practical illustration of faith for we trust the doctor knows what to prescribe, the pharmacist knows how to make the drugs, and that the pharmicist can actually read the doctor’s writing!
Most of us as Christians do not mind following God’s commands when things are going “our way.”
Abraham was a man with profound faith. Note I didn’t say perfect faith, but rather profound faith.
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
He left the Ur of the Chaldee or modern day Iraq.
Abraham believed God on this single instance of faith.
Abraham believed God when he did not know where, when he did not know how, when he did not know when, and when he did not know why. It was faith in God's Word that made him leave his home, live as a pilgrim, and follow wherever God led.
In our text today, we see the supreme test of his faith. God is requiring him to show absolute trust.
Note–In the passage before us God is requiring of Abraham a willingness to sacrifice his hopes and dreams.
1. The Request From the Lord (vs. 1-2)
Genesis 22:1-2
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. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
A. A Call to Testing – vs. 1
- This was an evaluation of the soul’s commitment.
- True faith goes into operation when there are no answers.
- God does not tempt or try us to sin, He tempts us to bring us to Himself.
- God asks for “His only son” (Ishmael had recently been sent away).
1 Peter 1:7
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
B. A Call to Service – vs. 2
He is asked to sacrifice all that is dear to him.
- The promised seed
Genesis 15:5-6
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
- The promised son
God had miraculously provided a son to Abraham.
Hebrews 11:11-12
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Isaac was promised in Abraham’s old age.
Illustration:
Someone once said you know you’re getting older when you hear snap, crackle, pop, and it isn’t your cereal.
Abraham is commanded to go to Moriah, about a three days journey off.
2. The Response of Obedience (vs. 3-8)
Genesis 22:3-8
3 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. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 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. 7 And Isaac spake 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? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Note:
A. Obedient Obedience – vs. 3-7
There was no hesitation. He acted in complete faith.
Romans 1:17
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Note:
Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends.
The calmness which Abraham expressed was due to his total trust in God.–verse 5 (we will come again)
God had promised that it was through Isaac’s seed that Abraham’s people would proceed, and Abraham took God at His Word.
Illustration:
D. L. Moody said, "I prayed for faith and it did not come, but when I read the Word of God then faith came."
Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Note:
He left his servants and supplies at the base of the hill when he went to worship.
Isaac carried the wood. (Picturing Christ)
John 19:17
17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Isaac was in total innocence – here is the wood , but where is the lamb?
Genesis 22:7
7 And Isaac spake 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?
Abraham reminds his son that God would see to it that a sacrifice was provided.
The life that follows God is first - a life of faith.
Faith in God makes great optimists.
Illustration:
Over in Burma, Adoniram Judson was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole.A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?" with a sneer on his face.His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
3. The Results of Faith (vs. 9-14)
Genesis 22:9-14
9 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. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 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. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
A. Abraham Prepares to Sacrifice – vs. 9-10
He is here at the moral elevation of his trial.
Are we willing to serve and honor the Lord with our best?
Note–Isaac, as a picture of Christ, willingly laid down on the altar. There seems to be no objection.(verse 9)
Philippians 2:7-8
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
B. God Provides a Replacement – vs. 11-14
Note–By God preserving Isaac, He preserved the whole nation of Israel.
Isaac was spared and a ram caught in the thicket was offered in his place for the offering.
Abraham showed himself to be willing to give his most precious possession for God; even so God was willing to give His only begotten Son for us.
Note–God had been well-pleased with Abraham’s faith.
Note–God promises to bless Abraham.–verses 15–16.
Genesis 22:15-17
15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Quote– “God is much more likely to reward our obedience with an explanation than He is to give an explanation to encourage our obedience.”
- God has provided a Lamb for us!
- His Lamb offers atonement for our sins.
John 1:36
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Jesus is our Lamb of sacrifice.
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Illustration:
Lauren McCain was one of the students killed at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.
The freshman from Shawnee, Oklahoma, left a powerful statement about her faith on her personal website.
The 20-year-old had written, "The purpose and love of my life is Jesus Christ. I don't have to argue religion, philosophy, or historical evidence because I KNOW Him.”
Close:
Abraham’s faith to follow God enabled him to see the mighty hand of God at work.
Genesis 22:14
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Note–The Lord provided for Abraham. He has provided for us as well!
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