Go Tests Abraham's Faith

 

Genesis 22 – God Tests Abraham’s Faith

 

God commanded Abraham to offer his son, Isaac on the altar and then restrained him at the last minute when He saw that he was willing to go through with it.  There is nothing more that God could ask Abraham to do.  This is the supreme test that He brought to this man.  God knew his heart, and God saw that Abraham believed Him. God never tempts anyone with evil.  God tempts people in the sense that He tests their faith.

Since Isaac is called a “lad” in this chapter, you would not gather that he was in his thirties, probably around 30 or 33 years old. This is an offer of a human sacrifice, and it raises the moral question, Is it right?  No, it is morally wrong.  Then why did Abraham do it?  If you could ask Abraham, his answer would be “because God has commanded it.  I have been walking with God for over fifty years.  He has never failed me, nor has he asked me to do anything without His best intentions.  I believe that if I go all the way with Him, God will raise Isaac from the dead.”

“Abraham took the wood.. and laid it upon Isaac.”  Remember that Christ carried His own cross. Th fire here speaks of judgment, and the knife speaks of the sacrifice.  Abraham told Isaac God will provide Himself a lamb. But there was no lamb, it was a ram.  The lamb was not provided until centuries later when John the Baptist identified Christ, saying “Behold the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. Isaac went forward in obedience.  Jesus went to the cross having said, “Not my will, but thine be done.”  He went to the cross to fulfill the will of God.

God told Abraham, that “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” Abraham believed.  God sees your heart. He knows whether you are genuine or not, but your neighbors and friends do not know.  They can only know by your works.  James in his book says, “faith without works is dead.” Faith must produce something.  God tests those who are His own today.  He tests you and me to strengthen our faith, to establish us, and to make us servants for Him.  On the same ridge where the temple stood is where Abraham offered his son, and it was there that Jesus Christ was crucified.  Abraham calls the place Jehovah-Jire, meaning Jehovah will provide.  Abraham demonstrated he had faith.  God spared Abraham’s son, but God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up freely for us all.  It was three days before Abraham got to Moriah.  It was the third day God gave Isaac back to Abraham alive.  This is a picture of both the death and resurrection of Christ.   “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” The blessing has come to all nations. And the only blessing the nations have is through Christ.