Command To Abraham

Genesis 22. This chapter becomes one of the key chapters in all the Bible. First, it is confirmation of the all important Abrahamic covenant. Note the following sequence:

• Genesis 12--The Initiation of the Covenant
• Genesis 15--The Ratification of the Covenant
• Genesis 22--The Confirmation of the Covenant
  

Second, we see the test of Abraham's faith. Note the outline of the chapter:
1. Abraham's Sorrow 22:1-8

• The Order: 22:1-2. Here we see the test of Abraham's faith. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering. This test did not come out of the blue. Gen.22:1 says, "After these things..." After what things? After all the years of God stretching and growing Abraham's faith. After all the years of surrender. After all the years of trusting in God. And with each step his faith grew. Now comes the ultimate test. "Abraham, take now your son, your only son Isaac whom you love...and offer him..."
• The Obedience: 22:3. Along with Isaac and two servants, Abraham heads out for the land of Moriah. Mount Moriah is a ridge system of mountains. The highest peak in this system is a place you're familiar with--Golgotha.
  
• The Ordeal: 22:4-8. We see in verse seven Isaac's question: "Father, where is the lamb?" And Abraham answers in verse eight: "God will provide a lamb my son..."

2. Isaac's Submission 22:9-10: Isaac allows Abraham to bind him on the altar. [don't miss the typology in this chapter: Isaac is a type of Christ "obedient to the point of death" Phil.2:5-8. Abraham is a type of the Father who "did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" Rom.8:32; John 3:16. The ram, a type of substitution--Christ offered as a burnt offering in our stead -Heb.10:5-10.]
3. God's Substitute 22:11-24

• The Nature of Abraham's Offering: 22:11-13. He is commanded to offer up a nearby ram instead of Isaac.
• The Name of Abraham's God: 22:14. "Yahweh Yireh" "the LORD Will Provide".
  
• The Number of Abraham's Descendants: 22:15-19. Numerous as the stars....
• The News Concerning Abraham's Family: 22:20-24

What has God done here? He has tested Abraham's faith. See Heb.11:17-19. Abraham has passed the test. See James 2:21-24. What was the test? 1) Abraham, are you faithful? 2) Abraham are you grateful? Abraham was faithful (did what God told him to do), and Abraham was grateful (when he saw the ram. Look at John 8:48-59, paying close attention to John 8:56.
APPLICATION: What does God want to know about you? 1) Are you faithful? 2) Are you grateful? The answers are up to you. The test in life will bear out the answers.