Abraham Commanded to Offer His Son
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/5/2019 PM |
Text: | Genesis 22:1-14 |
Psalters: | 126, 421, 95, 356 |
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper |
- The severe trial.
- Abraham was tried (tested) by God (1; Heb. 11:17).
- It was a way for Abraham to exercise faith, and grow in his love and devotion to God.
- God’s purpose in every trial of His children is to make more frequent, to improve and strengthen (refine) His work in us.
- The trial was that Abraham “take thy son; … and offer him …as a burnt offering” (2).
- It was to be a “burnt offering,” i.e., a voluntary expression of dedication and thanksgiving (not a sin offering).
- Did Abraham love God more than “thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest.”
- Abraham’s love for God was a work of God (Phil. 2:13).
- Note that the testing of Abraham’s faith was intensified.
- Abraham was tried (tested) by God (1; Heb. 11:17).
- “By faith Abraham, when he was tried,” obeyed: he “offered up Isaac;” he “offered up his only begotten” (Heb. 11:17).
- Abraham’s love of God was manifested in that he obeyed immediately: “rose up early in the morning” (3).
- It is only by faith that Abraham obeyed (with love of God), for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6).
- Faith is knowing God; and it is trust and confidence which sees God’s love and wisdom in every situation.
- Faith is a surrendering to God, the willingness to obey even when we do not understand.
- God’s graciously gave Abraham faith, gave him the desire and ability to obey, and God gave him a blessing upon his faith.
- First, Abraham “received” his son back from the dead “in a figure” (Heb. 11:19), as far as his intent to give him was concerned.
- Second, God provided the sacrifice (His Son) in the stead of Abraham’s son (13).
- Abraham returns blessedly happy especially because he saw God’s powerful work in him, enabling him to obey.
- Everyone of God’s children are tried by chastening, by strengthening their faith to obey.