2. 7. Crisis of Belief Genesis 22: 1-19 p. 20-21

3. Crisis of Belief God will ask more than we can do in our own strength God’s work will always require His power, strength, provision... It will test us and what we believe:  Expand our vision of God  Require walking by faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7)  Take us way outside our comfort zone

4. The testing of our Faith – Will challenge our heart, soul and mind  Intended to draw us closer to God  Makes us “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas 2:4) Important difference:  Satan tempts us to draw us away from God  God tests us to draw us deeper into himself  Greatest commandment: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind (Mt 22:37)

5. 1. Testing our Minds God tested Abraham (v 1)  In ch. 21 Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away  “through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned” (Gen 21: 12)  God’s promise: Isaac will make Abraham the “father of many nations” (Gen 17:5) God tells Abraham: Sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering (v 2)  How does this make sense!  “Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead” (Heb 11:19)

6. 1. Testing our Minds... Purpose:  Abraham could shift his focus with regard to descendants from God to the boy  Isaac guaranteed that he would have descendants... Or was it God? A “Crisis of Belief” challenges what we “know”

7. 2. Testing our Hearts Poignancy:  “take your son, your only son, whom you love” (v 2)  Sending Ishmael and Hagar away had “distressed” Abraham (Gen 21:11)  He’d lost one son, now he faced losing the other Abraham’s heart is in shreds! God speaks to accomplish his purposes.

8. 2. Testing our Hearts... Sacrifice...  those things that have taken on greater importance than they should  Lent... Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, whom he loved, by the one who sacrificed his only beloved son.

9. 3. Testing our Wills [Souls] Abraham’s dilemma – what to do?  “Early the next morning Abraham got up... and set out...” (v 3) A simple question: “where is the lamb?” (v 7)  “God will provide” (v 8)  Abraham holds on to God. Abraham’s obedience becomes the basis for blessing all nations (v 18)

10. Embracing a “Crisis of Belief” God will always call us to things beyond what we can achieve alone Also – He stretches our faith so that we can know Him more deeply  “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas 1:4)