Title Examination and Passing (Genesis 22:1-24)
Contents
Genesis Exposition 41
Examination and Passing (Genesis 22:1-24)
Today's verse is a very famous verse. This incident in which Abraham tried to offer his 100-year-old son as a burnt offering to God tells us what testing and passing are. God tested Abraham, and Abraham passed this test proudly. This incident is a textbook that will teach future generations of Christians what faith is.
God's Test
(1) “After those things, God called Abraham to the test, and said, ‘Abraham,’ he said, ‘Here I am.’ The reason God called Abraham was to test him. Most of the time, it was to give promises. But this time he calls to test. The Lord's call always has a purpose. A person who follows that purpose is a good believer.
There are two main types of testing in the Bible. It can be classified according to its subject and purpose. One is a test that God does, and the purpose is good. The other is a temptation that Satan uses for evil purposes. God wanted to measure how much faith Abraham had. It is part of the training that sets you up as a worthy vessel to be the father of all believers. This is to give you a reward worthy of it if you pass it properly.
(Verse 2) “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on the mountain as far as I will show you,” said the LORD. He tells him to take the son he got after a lot of hard work, cut it open, and burn it. From the phrase “your dear reader”, we can see that it means to sacrifice a precious and precious son. I don't say to give away what you have or don't have.
You would have thought that it would be better to ask them to give themselves. God tells us to give up on our son, whom we cannot give up. The harder we get, the stronger our attachment. become obsessed with it. However, when God refines a person of faith, He touches it. He tells you to give up your attachments, give up on yourself, and only follow the word of the Lord. He was, after all, a son to Abraham because he was the son he loved so much.
It is not offered at Beersheba there either. Go to the land of Moriah. Moria is the mountainous region that surrounds Jerusalem. Later it was built here in Solomon's Temple. It took three days. As I said last week, these three days are the problem. Who can comprehend all the agony and troubles? That is the nature of the exam. It makes people worry.
God's test was certainly not easy. (1 Peter 4:12) As the word says, it was a fire test that came to try. An easy test does not impress us so much today. The test of the Lord may come suddenly to us as well. Great believers are not those who have not been tempted, but those who have overcome temptation.
Abraham's Pass
Because Abraham was a man who trusted God completely, he was victorious in this fire test. (Hebrews 11:17-19) recalls this time like this: “Abraham, when he was tempted, by faith offered Isaac, who was promised, but he gave his only begotten son. He had already said to him, "It will be through Isaac who will be called your descendants." He thought that God was able to raise him from the dead.
Abraham is a man who has only “Yes” in the Word of God. (2 Corinthians 1:18) “God is faithful, and our words to you do not say yes or no.” It is a very absurd command, but total trust in God has overcome this test. It was not the Son that God really wanted. (Verses 10-12) “He stretched out his hand and took the sword to seize the son, and the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham! Do not touch him, do not do anything to him, for you have not withheld me, your son, your only son, and now I know that you fear God."
God wanted Abraham, not Isaac. He wanted the faith of Abraham, not the body of his son Isaac. He wanted to know whether Abraham would give up on himself or not. He asked for a son as the representative of Abraham because his son was the most precious thing. But Abraham gives up without hesitation.
Abraham worked hard to pass this test. First, he gets up early in the morning (verse 3) and goes to the place the Lord has directed him. Don't delay. A lot of believers are procrastinating. A believer must not miss the time that has come to him. On the way, an accident occurred. That's a sudden question for my son. But Abraham responds with a resolute attitude. “The Lamb will be provided by God” (verse 8), suggesting that his determination will not be shaken. It's probably to have that kind of desire rather than the assurance that God will really prepare the sheep.
Abraham really wanted to kill Isaac (verse 10). It was as if he had already killed him. God recognized Abraham's actions as such. (Verse 12) “And the angel said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy, do nothing to him, for you have not withheld me, your son, your only son, and now I know that you fear God.” Did you not have faith? It's not like that. It just means that God acknowledges that he is a person who obeys God no matter what. He was recognized by the Lord for his actions.
It is only to him who has been acknowledged that he solidifies the blessing he promised in the past. (Verses 17-19) is that. Abraham's descendants will multiply like the sand on the seashore and like the stars in the sky. Then it is said that his seed will gain the gates of the enemy. This is speaking of Israel conquering their enemies and gaining many holy spirits. Afterwards, the final victory is achieved through Jesus Christ.
(verses 21-24) the descendants of Nahor are recorded. Nahor bore 12 sons. Both Ishmael and Isaac had 12 sons. In particular, his son Bethuel was associated with Israel by sending a daughter named Rebekah to Isaac. Even though there is not a single patriarch, Bethuel, a godly man, enters into a relationship with Israel. You can see that God uses the godly.
Dear saints,
We never know when or how God will test us. The weapon of those who believe in God is their complete trust in God. As Abraham did, I hope you will live your life of faith with total trust in God. When the Lord's command is given, obey it immediately. May yours be the courage to put your faith into action, not just theories and thoughts. Such a believer is the main character of the blessing Abraham received. Hallelujah!