Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is The Law Monday. We’ll read Genesis 20-23. God’s promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah is fulfilled. I’m calling today’s episode “God Provides.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jill Sauve on Unsplash

Comments on Genesis 22

God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, but it took twenty-five long years for that promise to be fulfilled. Abraham was one hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Sarah ninety or ninety-one. After such a long wait, it is hard to imagine how happy they must have been to finally hold their baby, and how much they must have loved him. 

The text tells us in verse one that God tested Abraham. It was a test of faith. As we have seen as we have been reading through Genesis, Abraham's faith was not always strong. But every failure is an opportunity to grow. 

And now, with the birth of Isaac, Abraham has seen evidence that God fulfills his promises, even the most unlikely ones. Because of God's faithfulness in this and many other instances, Abraham's faith is strong. 

And now God came to Abraham and said, “Take your only son, Isaac, the son you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Kill him there and offer him as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

"Take your only son, Isaac..." Abraham had another son, Ishmael. But in chapter 21, Ishmael and his mother Hagar were sent away, out of Abraham's life. Ishmael was not the promised son. He was the product of Abraham and Sarah's lack of faith. In terms of God's promise, Abraham has just one son.

God said, “Take your only son, Isaac, the son you love..." This is the first time love is mentioned in the Bible. And it is in connection between a father and a son and the sacrificial offering of the son. 

"Kill him there and offer him as a whole burnt offering..." This had to have been a shocking thing to hear. It went against God's promise that Isaac would have children, and through Isaac would come a great nation. 

Maybe the thought flashed through his mind, "If I kill Isaac, how is God's promise going to be fulfilled? What if I refuse? If I refuse, Isaac will be able to have the children that God promised! But what happened last time I took it upon myself to fulfill God's promise? Ishmael was born. How did that work out?"

"...offer him as a whole burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” There was a very specific place that God wanted this to be done. 

"Abraham got up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. He took Isaac and two servants with him. After he cut the wood for the sacrifice, they went to the place God had told them to go." There is no indication that Abraham resisted. At the first opportunity, he gathered the supplies, his beloved son, servants and a donkey and set out. He didn't understand, but he obeyed. He has learned that you don't have to understand HOW God will do what He says, you just have to obey.

I like how Spurgeon said it, “But there is not a word of argument; not one solitary question that even looks like hesitation. ‘God is God,’ he seems to say, and it is not for me to ask him why, or seek a reason for his bidding. He has said it: ‘I will do it.’”

We know that Abraham could not have *wanted* to do what God said to do. But he trusted God. Feelings do not enter the equation. Faith is not about feelings. Faith is believing God.

And so Abraham, Isaac, the servants, the donkey and the wood for the sacrifice set out to God's appointed place.

Now listen to the next words in our text: "On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance." On the third day. Three days they travelled. Three days for Abraham to think about what was ahead, what God had called him to do. Three days to be with his beloved son. The son of the promise. Three days to consider whether or not he was going to go through with it. Three days to struggle with the idea of turning around.