God's Command To Sacrifice Isaac

INTRO

Our goal for the book of Genesis is to emphasize one word—seed. Throughout Genesis, the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman—the Messiah—were constantly in tension. In Genesis 21:34, Abraham lived as a foreigner. He never had a home but was constantly on the move, walking by faith.

TEACHING

Genesis 22:1: God tested Abraham. After all the things Abraham had been through, Abraham was so in tune with God that his immediate response was “Here I am.” Unlike Samuel and Eli, Abraham knew God was speaking to him. Testing is not a temptation. Satan tempted Adam and Eve. Will God ever tempt us with sin? No. Temptation comes from a desire within. A test or trial comes from the Lord with a specific purpose to fulfill. God wants to refine us. Abraham had given up more than anyone at this point. Dr. Tom Constable gave six instances when Abraham was tested and gave up something, then God gave him abundantly more in return:¹

• Abraham left his homeland, but God gave him a new one.
• Abraham left his extended family, and then God gave him a bigger one.
• Abraham gave Lot the best land, but God gave him more.
• Abraham rejected the reward from an earthly king, and then God gave him greater riches.
• Abraham sent Ishmael away, but God still blessed Ishmael and made him the father of nations.
• And because Abraham was willing to give up his son Isaac, God spared Isaac and used him to give Abraham nations.

Many of us want the results, but we don’t want to go through the testing. Constable said that when you go through a sacrifice or time of testing, it will always lead to more of the Lord.²

Genesis 22:2: “Moriah” means where the Lord provides or the Lord appears. This is the same place where David built an altar, where Solomon built his temple, and possibly where Christ died. This land of Moriah was where God appeared and God provided repeatedly . . . to David, to Solomon, and to Christ. The question is, will we walk by faith to get to that point?

Genesis 22:3: One day God told Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son, Isaac. Then, “early the next morning” Abraham obeyed. There was no hesitation and no debate. Hebrews 11:19 says Abraham had radical faith. He believed it was going to be okay; he believed God could bring Isaac back from the dead (even though he’d never seen that before). Wiersbe said, “In one sense, it’s a compliment when God gives us a test because it shows He wants to promote us in the school of faith.”³

Genesis 22:4: “On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.” For three days, Abraham knew he was going to kill his son. There was plenty of time for him to turn around and go back home. I believe God gave Abraham ample time to question whether he was really called to do this. Abraham didn’t resist; he embraced faith.

Genesis 22:5: With confidence, Abraham told the servants who had accompanied him on the journey, "The boy and I will return.” Abraham believed both he and his son would come back. Josephus, a Roman-Jewish historian, said Isaac was probably 25 years old, while most other theologians say he was likely 15-16 years old. Regardless, Isaac was old enough to be fully aware of what was happening. Wiersbe said, “Abraham believed God and obeyed him when he didn’t know where (Hebrews 11:8), when he didn’t know when (Hebrews 11:9–10), when he didn’t know how it would unfold (Hebrews 11:11), and when he didn’t know why (Hebrews 11:17).”⁴Part of the test is not knowing the answers . . . the where, when, how, and why.

Genesis 22:6–9: Just as Isaac carried the wood and the knife for his sacrifice (v. 6), I think of Christ carrying the cross, the weapon that would be used to kill Him. “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering” (v. 8). The land of Moriah means where God provides (vv. 7–8). Hamilton said, “If Abraham displays faith that obeys, then Isaac displays faith that cooperates. If Isaac was strong and big enough to carry the wood for his sacrifice, maybe he was strong enough to resist or subdue his father.”⁵Even if Isaac could have resisted, he chose not to. Abraham’s faith was beginning to show up in his son Isaac. When you walk in faith, you will impact other people.

Genesis 22:10–11: A sacrifice was a slaughter (v. 10). There was a sense of urgency when God spoke to Abraham: “Abraham, Abraham!” Just as Abraham responded to God with, “Here I am,” so did other faithful followers of God. God intervened at critical points in each of these men’s walk of faith. In Genesis 46:1–2, when God called, “Jacob, Jacob,” Jacob responded, “Here I am.” In Exodus 3:4, when God called, “Moses, Moses,” Moses responded, “Here I am.” In 1 Samuel 3:10, when God called, “Samuel, Samuel,” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” In Acts 9:4, Saul heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul.”

Genesis 22:12: As Abraham raised the knife to kill his son in obedience to God, the Angel of the Lord stopped him and said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy…For now I know that you fear God.” Waltke described Abraham’s obedience as an “Obedience which does not protect even what is most precious but trusts God with the future.”⁶When obedience is radical, it means not holding on to anything anymore. Faith was no longer just words to Abraham; it was full on action. James 2:21–22 described Abraham’s faith: “You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.” It’s one thing to say you believe in God, and it’s another thing to walk it out.

Genesis 22:13–14: “Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns.” Jehovah Jireh is the name for God used here, and it means “The Lord will provide.” Over and over, this mountain of the Lord, Mt. Moriah, has been referenced in the Psalms (Psalms 24:3; 48:1; 99:9; 133:3) and in Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2-3; 30:29). This was the mountain of the Lord where God showed up! God always shows up in time of need. We, too, can trust that God will show up when we need him (Hebrews 4:16).

Genesis 22:15–18: “‘By Myself I have sworn,’ this is the Lord’s declaration: ‘Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you . . . your offspring will possess the gates of their enemies.’” Remember that Abraham was spared when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, and even Lot, who sat in the gates of Sodom, was spared because of Abraham. Because of Abraham’s sacrifice and obedience, God promised He was going to do it . . . He was going to give Abraham more. Isaac was a picture of Christ offered as a sacrifice. In John 1:29, John the Baptist said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Because Abraham was obedient, the seed continued and ultimately led to Jesus.

CLOSING

The seed continues even now. Dr. Tom Constable said there were four types of seed:⁷

natural seed—any physical descendants of Abraham (Isaac and Ishmael)

natural/spiritual seed—believing physical descendants of Abraham (Isaac)

spiritual seed—nonphysical, believing descendants (believing Gentiles)

ultimate Seed—Christ Himself (Galatians 3:16)

There are layers to this “seed” theme that we’re tracing. The crazy thing is that Abraham was willing to give up all of this to obey God. No matter where we go . . . when, how, why . . . we’re just supposed to walk by faith. When you face a test, if it doesn’t contradict the Word of God, then walk it out. God just might want to fulfill something . . . through you.