Genesis 22:1-14 

INTRODUCTION

Genesis 22:1-14 is the high-water mark in the book of Genesis, in the life of Abraham, and in the life of Isaac.

1. The offering of Isaac is discussed three times in the Bible (Gen. 22:1-14; Jam. 2:2:21-22; Heb. 11:17-19)
2. In James 2:21-22 and Hebrews 11:17-19, this event is discussed in the context of genuine faith.
3. Abraham is in the Faith’s Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11, along with many other great servants of faith.

God had made a promise to Abraham

1. Genesis 12:1-3
2. This promise was given six times to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-18; 15; 17; 18:16-19; 22:17-19)

In Genesis 21:2 Isaac is born, and Abraham now has the son he has always wanted, the one that God had promised

1. But notice now what the Lord tells Abraham in… Genesis 22:1-2
2. The Lord wants Abraham to sacrifice his precious boy!
3. What would you do in this situation?
4. Would we have the type of Faith that Abraham had in this situation?

Let us now observe what the offering of Isaac revealed concerning the faith of Abraham.

DISCUSSION

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY

1. This is affirmed twice in the Scriptures
2. Hebrews 11:17
3. James 2:21-22

Biblical faith, in every dispensation, has always shown itself in obedience:

1. Patriarchal Age:
   • Hebrews 11:4
   • Hebrews 11:7
   • Hebrews 11:8
2. Mosaic Age:
   • Hebrews 11:30
   • Hebrews 11:32-39
3. Christian Age:
   • Acts 8:12
   • “Obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:26)
   • “Faith working by love” (Gal. 5:6)

James 2:14-20, 24…here we are informed that a faith without works of obedience is:

1. Dead …Imperfect
2. No better than the devil’s faith
3. A contradiction to God’s word

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT OBEYED WITH EXACTNESS

Notice the exactness of God’s directions…Genesis 22:2

1. Specified what He wanted – a burnt offering
2. Specified whom He wanted – Isaac
3. Specified where He wanted it – Mount Moriah

Abraham obeyed with exactness!

God gave Noah exact directions…

1. Noah obeyed with exactness
2. “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:22).

God gave Moses exact directions

1. Hebrews 8:5
2. Moses obeyed with exactness

When man does not obey with exactness, serious consequences will result

Consider the situation of Uzzah

1. 2 Samuel 6:6-7
2. This violated Exodus 25:14… to be carried with staves by the Levites

Consider the situation of Moses in Numbers 20:7-12

1. Moses smote the rock and didn’t give God the glory.
2. Many today are trying to treat obedience like a game of horse shoes … just trying to be close

We must take the greatest lengths possible to obey with exactness

Abraham had a faith that obeyed with exactness

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WITHOUT QUESTION

There would have been plenty that Abraham could have questioned God about:

1. Only heathen nations offer human sacrifices
2. How will the promise be fulfilled?

Did Abraham respond in this way?

1. “Do you really mean it, Lord?”
2. “Can’t you tell someone else to do it?”
3. “What about Ishmael?”
4. “Can’t I be faithfully thine without doing just this one thing?”
5. “Is not this requiring too much?”

Why didn’t Abraham ask these questions?

1. His faith was too strong
2. Romans 4:20-22

We must never put a ( ? )where God has put a ( . )

We should never question the Lord for He always know what is best…Isaiah 55:8-9

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY WHEN SUCH WAS NOT CONVENIENT

Notice the inconvenience for Abraham

1. There were donkeys to saddle
2. Young men to recruit, wood to gather
3. A three-day journey to make, thus – two days of camping.

It is not always convenient to obey and serve God

1. The eunuch traveled some 1,000 miles to worship God (Acts 8:26-40)
2. What about the persecution Paul had to bear?
   • Persecution is never convenient
   • 2 Corinthians 11:24-28

1 Kings 12:25-29… not convenient so he changed God’s plan

We must realize that we all have crosses to bear

1. Matthew 16:24
2. It is not always convenient to:
   • Attend worship
   • Study your Bible
   • Teach the lost
   • Encourage a way-ward member
   • Do any aspect of the Lord’s work

Convenience must never dictate our faithfulness

THE OFFERING OF ISAAC REVEALED A FAITH THAT WOULD OBEY REGARDLESS OF THE COST

Oh, what a price Abraham had to pay!

Obedience can be a very costly thing:

1. Obedience cost Job everything (Job 1)
2. It cost Moses riches and esteem (Heb. 11:24-27)
3. Obedience cost Daniel his safety (Dan. 6:10-24)
4. Obedience cost Stephen his life (Acts 6:10-24)

There is a cost attached to Christianity

1. Luke 14:25-33
2. We must not teach or practice discount Christianity!
3. 2 Samuel 24:24

What will obedience cost us? It may cost us our:

1. Friends … family
2. Job
3. Personal joys and habits

But whatever the cost, it pays to be obedient unto the Lord

1. Mark 10:28-31
2. God’s shovel is bigger than our shovel

CONCLUSION

Is it any wonder that Abraham is called “a friend of God”? (Jam. 2:23)

Are you a friend of God?