Genesis 22

Genesis 22 (The Sacrifice of Isaac)

1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

² Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

³ Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
⁶ Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together,

*Abraham is posed with a challenge, and accepts it as he KNOWS God faithful.

1. Expect tests from God

Temptations- used by the devil to bring out the worst in us.

Trials-Holy Spirit to bring out the best in us.

2. Focus on promises, not explanations.

"Our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems impossible."

3. Depend on Gods provision.

4. Seek to glorify Christ!

Trials:

1. Purify our faith (1 Peter. 1:6-9)

2.Perfect our character (James 1:1-4)

3.Protect us from sin (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

Abraham's willingness/sacrifice to offer Isaac paints a beautiful picture of Gods sacrifice to us when sending his only son Jesus.

Notice in verse 7...

 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
⁸ Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

*Isaac asked about the animal for sacrifice and Abrahams response was God will provide a LAMB...

HOWEVER...

In verse 13
¹³ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram^[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son

God provided a ram instead of a Lamb.

*God gave Isaac to Abraham & Abraham gave Isaac back to God.

The Ultimate sacrifice: God sending his son, Jesus to sacrifice his life for us.

John 1:29...
"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

*The Lamb does come as THE ultimate sacrifice!

How beautiful is the word of God!!

Joyfully,

Hannah