The testing of Abraham

• 1^st – 25 years later… vs. 1-7
  • 1^st – The Lord visited (perfect) Sarah as He had said (perfect) … vs. 1-2
    • And DID (sequential / imperfect) as He had spoken (piel) – intensively spoken…
      • Sarah conceived and bore (sequential / imperfect) – Abraham a son in his OLD age…
      • At THE appointed time [לַמּוֹעֵד] – which God had spoken (piel / perfect) – intensively spoken!
    • The PROMISE of a SON – was first been given when Abraham was still in Ur of Chaldeans…
      • God ONLY had to make the PROMISE once – because all of His promises…
      • II Corinthians 1:20 – “All the promises of God are Yes and Amen…”
      • Yet God was patient to repeat the PROMISE and even expand on it!
      • The descendants of Abraham would be as the dust of the earth – the stars in the heavens…
      • God promised Him again and again – Genesis 13:16 / 15:4-5 / 17:19 / 18:14
      • Why did God repeat it – because it took 25 years for God to fulfill His PROMISE!
    • If God says He will do something – it is an absolute guarantee that He will…
      • God cannot lie – and He never changes His mind – God says it / that settles it!
      • If God promises to take care of all our needs – He will!
      • If God promises us salvation through faith in Jesus – heaven in our destination!
      • But we also have a responsibility – we need to WAIT on the Lord!
      • The good news is that God is patient with us – and willing to remind us of His…
      • II Peter 1:4 – “[We] have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…”
  • 2^nd – Obedient to the Lord… vs. 3-7
    • Abraham was not obedient at first – at first – he depended on himself…
      • Before he trusted the Lord – he tried to take care of things on his own – Harar / Sister…
      • We want to WAIT on and TRUST in the Lord – but somehow – we seem NOT to!
      • The desire to trust in and wait on the Lord is there
      • But there is also the doubt – what if God does not take care of things…
      • Turns out there is a battle in us – between our will and the Spirit within us…
      • Part of us wants to wait on the Lord – part wants to trust in ourselves…
      • The problem is if we trust in ourselves all we end up creating more problems!
      • Galatians 5:17 – “[Our] old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.” [NLT]
    • But in the end Abraham obeyed the Lord…
      • Abraham named his son Isaac – laughter – as the Lord had said – Genesis 17:19
      • When Isaac was 8 days old – he circumcised him as God commanded – Genesis 17:10
      • Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born – and God MADE Sarah laugh…
      • For she bore Abraham a son in his old age – just as the Lord had said – Genesis 18:14
      • There is a theme here – EVERYTHING happened just as the Lord said!
      • The good news is that our failures do not stop the work of the Lord…
      • God is ALWAYS in control – not matter what we do – His plans always come to pass!
      • II Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”

• 2^nd – The son of the promise… vs. 8-21
  • 1^st – On the day the Isaac was weaned (perhaps 2 years old) … vs. 8-11
    • Abraham threw a great feast…
      • Ishmael (between 14-16 years old) – the ½ brother – was intensely mocking (piel) Isaac!
      • Understandable – Ishmael was old enough to know what the birth of Isaac meant…
      • Even though he was older – he was not a true son…
      • He was the child of a bondwoman – Isaac was the true son of Abraham and Sarah…
      • Now that Isaac was born – Ishmael was no longer important or needed…
      • No doubt there was a lot of jealousy that quickly sprouted up!
    • Sarah demanded Abraham cast (piel) out the bondwoman (Hagar) and her son!
      • Sarah was not about to see her son mocked by the son of her servant…
      • But Abraham was the father of both boys – and so he was very DISPLEASED…
      • Though Ishmael was not the son of Sarah – he still was HIS son…
      • Abraham loved Ishmael – and did not want to see anything bad happen to him!
  • 2^nd –Listen to your wife… vs. 12-13
    • God STRONGLY (jussive) encouraged Abraham not to be DISPLEASED…
    • Whatever Sarah said – he was commanded (imperative) to listen to her…
    • Because in Isaac his SEED (singular) would be called (niphal) – it was the choice of God!
    • The reference here is that through Isaac would come the promised SEED!
    • Galatians 3:16 – “God gave the promise to Abraham and his Seed. And notice that it doesn’t say the promise was to his seeds, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his Seed—and that, of course, means Jesus.”
    • The promised savior – Jesus – would not come through Isaac NOT Ishmael…
    • Therefore Isaac would stay – and Ishmael had to go!
  • 3^rd – Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away… vs. 14-21
    • He ONLY gave them bread and water – no inheritance – nothing was passed on to Ishmael!
      • All he was given were the bare necessities to survive ONE day – then sent away…
      • When the water ran out Hagar put the boy under a bush…
      • She did not want to see Ishmael die from thirst – but the Lord heard the boy (not Hagar)
      • God opened her eyes so she could see there was a well…
      • And the Lord was with Ishmael – he became an archer – married a woman from Egypt!
    • This all may seem harsh – but the picture is nothing good comes from our flesh!
      • Galatians 4:21-31 – “The son of the slave-wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise.” [NLT]
      • The two sons of Abraham represent the two approaches to fulfilling the promises of God!
      • In the end our best attempts to fulfill the promises of God end up as nothing!
      • Literally it is as if we never did anything at all – no lasting fruit – from all our efforts!
      • Only the things God does in our lives – have lasting results – John 15:16 / Hebrews 12:28

• 3^rd – A good witness… vs. 22-34
  • 1^st – Abimelech recognized that God blessed Abraham in everything he did… 22-24
    • Abimelech asked Abraham to swear he would deal kindly with him and his nation…
    • Abimelech had not been on the best terms with Abraham after the Sarah incident…
    • But news of a one hundred year old man having a child caused a stir – God was working!
    • NOTE – it was also only AFTER Ishmael had been cast out!
    • The witness of Abraham was restored – and the world noticed!
    • Even those who might have been enemies were asking to be his friends!
  • 2^nd – Abraham had a well that had been taken by the men of Abimelech… vs. 25-32
    • Therefore they swore an oath (Abraham gave Abimelech 7 sheep)
    • The well belonged to Abraham – the place was called – Beersheba (well of the oath)!
  • 3^rd – The Lord – Everlasting God… vs. 33-34
    • Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days…
    • He planted a grove of trees (tamarisk) there at Beersheba… 
    • And called on the name of the – Lord God Everlasting [יְהוָה אֵל עוֹלָֽם]
    • Something had changed in Abraham – he was not the same person…
    • He stepped out to follow the Lord when He called – Genesis 12:1-2
    • He had called on the name of the Lord in Mamre (after Egypt) – Genesis 13:1-4
    • He believed the promised the Lord – and was counted righteous by FAITH – Genesis 15:6
    • But having received the SON of PROMISE – it was time for THE test!

• 4^th – The TESTING of Abraham… vs. 1-10
  • 1^st – It came to pass the Lord intensely tested (piel) Abraham… vs. 1
    • There are different kinds of difficulties in life…
    • We might face temptations / consequences…
      • Generally a TEMPTATION is something that satan comes at us with…
      • Judges 14:1 – Sampson was walking in the in Timnah (world) – and saw a woman…
      • Sampson was a man that God wanted use to redeem His people…
      • Therefore He was someone satan wanted to temp / destroy…
      • But it would be a fair question to ask – why was Sampson walking in the world!
      • Often – we get are tempted because we are in places / looking at things we should not be…
      • We put ourselves in positions where we are going to be tempted by the world…
      • We as believers need to be careful where we go – and what we do…
      • We are foolish if we think that our surroundings do not affect us – I Corinthians 15:33 
    • We might face a TRIAL – something the Lord allows into our lives…
      • After Israel entered the Promised Land – a new generation rose that did not know God…
      • They found themselves in a Land littered with godless people…
      • God used these enemies to give Israel an option – whom did they want to serve…
      • The pagans would be a test for Israel – see whether or not they would obey the Lord!
      • Judges 2:22 – “Through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord…”
    • The idea of the LORD testing us – is a difficult one to comprehend…
      • Why would God test us – why would He bring difficulties into our lives…
      • If you go to the Market and want to buy some mangos – you want good ones…
      • Problem: how to know which are best – the outside might look good – but…
      • But unless you test the fruit you do not know what it is like on the inside!
      • You do not get to really know who someone is when life is easy…
      • The real test of character is how they act when life falls apart…
      • God uses trials in life to turn up the heat – let us see what we are made of…
      • God already knows – but He wants US to see what is in OUR hearts!
  • 2^nd – Take (imperative) now your son… vs. 2-3
    • God tells Abraham to take his ONLY son…
      • We know that Abraham had 2 sons – Ishmael and Isaac
      • Yet God only mentions Isaac – He does not recognize Ishmael as his son!
    • Take your only son whom you LOVE…
      • This is the first mention of the word Love in the Bible…
      • Interesting love was not used with Adam and Eve – in the context of marriage…
      • Love was not used with Abel or Seth – when Adam and Eve had children…
      • Instead the word Love is first used to describe the LOVE of a Father for His ONLY Son!
      • The greatest definition of LOVE – THE LOVE of God the Father for Jesus!
      • What is amazing is that same LOVE is the love the Father and the Son have for us!
      • John 15:9 – “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you…”
      • It was that LOVE for us that drove the Father to sacrifice His Son on the cross!
      • John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this… lay down one’s life for his friends.”
    • So Abraham arose early in the morning…
      • AROSE – hiphil – it was NOT easy – he had to MAKE himself go…
      • But it was obedience – sequential – he was going in direct obedience to the command!
      • I heard a story about a young man who had just gotten saved…
      • He was walking down the street and God spoke to him – shout out Jesus loves you!
      • Understandably he questioned the idea – it seemed rather silly…
      • He looked around and no one was there – so he went for it – JESUS LOVES YOU!
      • After a moment someone came out of a nearby house – Did you just shout!
      • Embarrassed he admitted he thought God told him to shout – Jesus love you…
      • The person told him – I have had a hard life – and was just about to kill myself…
      • I told God – if you are really there – I need to hear from you right now…
      • It was then when I heard you shout – JESUS LOVES YOU!
      • When the Lord calls to do something – do we obey – or do we hesitate…
      • We can always find a reason not to obey – we can find excuses…
      • But it is ONLY when we follow the Lord that great things happen!
  • 3^rd – A picture of the Cross… vs. 4-6
    • 1 – Mount Moriah – the same place where Solomon built the temple – II Chronicles 3:1
    • 2 – Three day journey – for three days the Son was dead in the eyes of the Father!
    • 3 – The Father believed His Son would be resurrected!
      • Genesis 22:5 – “Abraham said: We will come back to you.”
      • Hebrews 11:19 – “Abraham assumed that if Isaac died – God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense – Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.”
    • 4 – The Son carried the wood for the sacrifice on his back up the mountain – the cross!
    • 5 – The Son was a willing sacrifice…
      • Isaac was not a child – lad [וְהַנַּעַר] – he is thought to have been between 15-37…
      • He is 37 when Sarah dies in the next chapter – Abraham would have been about 115-137!
      • Isaac could easily have overpowered his elderly father!
      • John 10:18 – “No one takes [my life] from Me – but I lay it down of Myself…”
    • 6 – The Father took the Son to the highest point – Mount Moriah highest point – Golgotha!
    • 7 – Where the Father offered His ONLY Son – whom He LOVED – as a sacrifice – John 3:16
  • 4^th – The question from Isaac – where is the sacrifice… vs. 7-8
    • Abraham answered Isaac – God will provide [אֱלֹהִים יִרְאֶה] – Himself as THE lamb [הַשֶּׂה]…
    • This story of Abraham and Isaac is a mirror!
    • It looked forward to the day when God the Father would offer His son…
    • He would provide Himself – as THE Lamb of God – as the sacrifice for ALL sin!
    • It was not nails that held Jesus to the cross – it was His love for you and me!

• 5^th – Justified by faith … vs. 9-19
  • 1^st – When they came to THE place where God told Abraham – Golgotha… vs. 9-12
    • Abraham bound his son and placed him on the wood – then raised the knife to kill him…
      • Talk about INTENSE moments in the Bible – and waiting till the LAST minute!
      • BUT an angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven!
      • Do NOT lay your hand on the lad – or do anything to him…
      • For now I KNOW (perfect) that you fear God – because you have not withheld your son!
    • God never intended for Abraham to kill Isaac – He would not have let him…
      • God was testing was to see if Abraham loved anything more than the Lord…
      • God will often ask us to set down the thing we desire the most…
      • To see whether or not we Love anything more than Jesus!
  • 2^nd – Yahweh Yira… vs. 13-14
    • Abraham looked up and saw a ram (NOT a lamb) caught in the bushes – for a sacrifice…
      • Abraham then called the place [יְהוָה יִרְאֶה] Yahweh Yira – the Lord PROVIDES [imperfect]
      • When Abraham was willing to put the Lord first – even before his son – Yahweh Yira!
      • Luke 12:31-32 – “Seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.  Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
      • If we put anything else first in our life – everything else will be a problem…
      • When we put the Lord first – before everything else – He comes God our Provider…
      • It is not that we ignore everything else – we just put the Jesus first!
      • Yahweh Yira – our Lord who does not just want to give us what we need…
      • Fear not – He wants to give us His Kingdom!
    • There are some verses in the Bible you just know are SPECIAL…
      • This is one of those verses – we can certainly apply it to our lives – God is our provider…
      • But it is saying SO MUCH MORE than that – it is revelation of the Gospel!
      • As it is said to this day – in the MOUNT of the Lord – Golgotha…
      • It shall be PROVIDED [יִרְאֶה] – literally to be seen – to look at – to consider…
      • PROVIDED (niphal /imperfect / third person / masculine / singular) – HE will be SEEN!
      • WOW – Abraham was a PROPHET – on Golgotha the Lord would be SEEN!
      • It would be there God would PROVIDE for our greatest need – forgiveness of sin!
  • 3^rd – The evidence of salvation… vs. 15-19
    • For a second time the Angel of the Lord spoke from heaven…
      • Because Abraham did NOT withhold his only son – God reconfirms His covenant!
      • Blessing (piel – infinitive) I will constantly bless you (piel – imperfect) – Genesis 12:2
      • Multiplying (hiphil – infinitive) I will multiply (hiphil – imperfect) your descendants…
      • As stars in the heaven or the sand by the seashore – Genesis 15:5
      • Your descendents will possess the gates of your enemy (singular) – Genesis 15:18-21
      • In your SEED – Jesus – all the nations of the earth will be blessed – Genesis 12:3
        
    • All of these were promises that God had already given
      • But because Abraham obeyed (perfect) the voice of the Lord…
      • Because Abraham had proven his faith – God reconfirms the promises!
      • James uses this as an example to show us how FAITH WORKS!
      • James 2:20-24 – “Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”
    • Abraham was justified / saved by WORKS when he offered Isaac his son…
      • Not by WORKS alone – but by FAITH working together with his WORKS…
      • The word together – Gk. synergeo – we can speak right into English…
      • Synergy – the cooperation of two things to produce a greater combined effect!
      • It was the FAITH of Abraham that worked together with his WORKS to justify him…
      • Neither had enough power on their own – he could not WORK for salvation…
      • Neither was his FAITH alone enough – but together they justified the Father of Faith!
      • When Abraham offered up of Isaac – it PERFECTED / COMPLETED his faith!
      • We know a fruit tree is alive – if there is fruit on its branches…
      • In the same way we know there is TRUE FAITH in Jesus – if there is FRUIT…
      • If there is no FRUIT / WORKS coming from a believers life – then there is no FAITH…
      • The FRUIT / WORKS are the proof that the FAITH is TRUE!
    • But do not miss WHEN the FAITH of ABRAHAM produced good WORKS…
      • James quotes from Genesis 15:6 – when Abraham had no children at around 85…
      • Yet God told him his decedents would be – as the stars in the heavens!
      • Abraham believed the Lord – and God counted it to him as righteousness…
      • It was at this point that Abraham was saved by FAITH – and became a FRIEND of God!
    • But in Genesis 22 – Abraham was between 115-137!
      • That means there was up to 50 years before the fruit was seen…
      • If we plant an apple seed – we do not expect to harvest apples a week later!
      • Fruit takes time to grow and develop – but a healthy tree will ALWAYS bear FRUIT!
      • If we have TRUE FAITH in Jesus – there WILL BE good FRUIT coming from our lives!
      • But not all FRUIT is immediate – it might take years for the FRUIT to come out…
      • That should be VERY encouraging to us – because we might ask – where is the FRUIT…
      • When will my husband / wife change and show the FRUIT of their FAITH…
      • The answer is we do not see the heart – but we pray – and wait for fruit to come!
• 6^th – A girl named Rebekah… vs. 20-24
  • The brother of Abraham – Nahor – had 8 children…
    • Nahor married Milcah – (his niece) the daughter of his brother Haran – Genesis 11:29
    • One of his sons – Bethuel – had a daughter named Rebekah…
    • NOTE – there is no mention of Isaac coming back down the mountain…
    • We assume that Isaac came down with Abraham – but it does not mention it…
    • The next time we will see Isaac is when he is introduced to his bride – Rebekah!
    • Interesting to note – after Jesus sacrifice – He will not be seen again…
    • Until he is introduced to His bride – the church!
  • With pick up next week with the marriage of the Son to a gentile bride!