Faith of a Father, Faith of a Son Genesis 22:1-13 October 11, 2015 Rev. Ken Sun

Genesis 22:1-13 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, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.“ 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled 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. 5He 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." 6Abraham 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, 7Isaac 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?" 8Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. 12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said.

"Do not do anything to him "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." 13Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. - Genesis 22:1-13

Why did God test Abraham’s faith? First, God did this to show Abraham the extent of Abraham’s faith in God. The test was not for God, but for Abraham, and the words "Now I know [you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son]" were not for God, but for the man who needed to hear God affirm his faithfulness. – Christian Apologetic Resource Second, God did this because this event foreshadows the Gospel message.

How did Abraham respond to this? First, Abraham didn’t argue with God. Second, Abraham responded immediately. 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. – Gen. 22:3 Third, Abraham didn’t change his mind.

Genesis 22:5 5He [Abraham] 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." - Genesis 22:5

Hebrews 11:17-19 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. – Hebrews 11:17-19

Galatians 3:9 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. - Galatians 3:9

Q1: How old was Isaac when this event occurred? The Hebrew word translated into English as “boy” (or “lad”) is the word “na’ar”. The word na’ar can actually refer to unmarried males from infancy to adulthood. 2 This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man [“na’ar”] of seventeen… – Genesis. 37:2

Q1: How old was Isaac when this event occurred? Jamieson, Faussett and Brown concluded that Isaac was more than 20 years old. Josephus (the great Jewish historian) opined that Isaac was probably 25 years old. Jewish rabbinic tradition says that Isaac was 37 years old when this happened.

Q2: What did Isaac know about what was happening? 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?" – Genesis 22:7

Q3: How did Isaac act knowing his father’s intent?

Q4: Did God tell Isaac what He asked Abraham to do?

If a young man [Isaac] can have such faith in his human dad without having received any promises about his future, shouldn’t we have even more faith in our spiritual Father who HAS given us promises about our future?

God’s promises to us 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. – Hebrews 13:5 “20 And surely I [Jesus] am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20   “7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

God’s promises to us 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28 “22 Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” – Philippians 1:22-24   “4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” – Revelation 21:4

2 Corinthians 1:20 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 1:20