Read Genesis 22:1-19
Questions from the Scripture text: What does Genesis 22:1 say that God was doing to Abraham? What three things does God say about Isaac to Abraham in Genesis 22:2? When did Abraham get going (Genesis 22:3)? What did he do, and whom did he take? How had he determined where to go? How long did it take him to get there (Genesis 22:4)? What instructions did he give the young men (Genesis 22:5)? Whom did he say would go? Whom did he say would come back? What did Abraham give Isaac to carry (Genesis 22:6)? What did Abraham carry? What do Abraham and Isaac call each other in Genesis 22:7? What does Isaac ask? What is Abraham’s answer in Genesis 22:8? What four things does Abraham do when they arrive at the spot in Genesis 22:9? What does Isaac do (and not do)? What does Abraham do in Genesis 22:10? Who calls out to him in Genesis 22:11? From where? What does He say at first? What does He tell Abraham not to do in Genesis 22:12? What does He say that Abraham has shown? What does Abraham see in Genesis 22:13? What does he do with it? What does Abraham call the place (Genesis 22:14)? Why? What happens after the burnt offering and the naming of the place in Genesis 22:15? By what does the angel of Yahweh swear in Genesis 22:16? To what action does He say that He is responding? What will He do to Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 22:17)? What will Abraham’s descendants possess? In whom will all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 22:18)? Because of what? Where does this passage “end up” (Genesis 22:19)?God says that He is testing Abraham. He tests whether Abraham is willing to give up his son, his only son, whom he loves. Are we willing to give up what we love the most—what we could least live without, what we would give everything else for—for the Lord?
The answer from Abraham was, “yes!” No child of Adam deserves to be able to answer yes. How perfect is the sacrifice of Christ, that He is worthy on our behalf that even sinners such as Abraham and we are would be the objects of such a work of grace! If you cannot say “yes,” then you can plead this before God: Christ is worthy that for His sake You would so work in me that I would give up anything for You!
And, when you do come to be willing, you will see that God has done a great work not only in offering Christ for you, but also a great work of His Spirit in bringing you to faith in Christ, and beginning to make you to be like He is.
The grace of our God is so great that He not only makes us to believe in Christ, but also uses us in His plan to bring others as well to faith in Christ. None of us are given the place of Abraham, through whom Isaac comes, and through whom Christ comes. But each of us is given a part in God’s great plan of redemption, as He brings to Himself all whom He has chosen in Christ in His eternal, electing love. This grace is especially great when He is pleased to respond to our good works—imperfect as they are—by doing good in response to His Son, whom He sees in us, because He has joined Him to us.
Of course—that is just the thing on display here. That it is only Christ who can atone for us. We deserve the knife. We deserve the fire. But even if Isaac had died, it was necessary that God raise him. Why? Because Christ had to come. Christ had to take the knife of death for us. Christ had to take the fire of wrath for us.
And of course He did. God would pass His own test. He would love us enough that He would not spare His own beloved Son. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His son to be the propitiation for our sins.
What would be hardest for you to give up for the Lord? What has He given for you?Suggested Songs: ARP73C “Yet Constantly, I Am with You” or TPH431 “And, Can It Be”
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