By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Hebrews 11:17-19
In our sermon study this weekend we will be examining one of the most interesting passages in the Bible, Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice. Would God really ask someone to do something like this? After all God in His Law said that the Children of Israel were not to partake in the heathen practice of human sacrifice. In fact, the Israelites were commanded to not even associate with the pagan people groups who participated in the immoral practice.
So why would God ask Abraham to do such a thing? Well, in the big picture, this story is a living depiction or type of the ultimate sacrifice God, the Father, would make with His one and only Son, Jesus. But it is also a test God uses to increase Abraham’s faith. The word test means “to qualify through a thorough examination.” God gives tests to strengthen and approve us – to test us to see if our faith is genuine and to humble us and bring us under His care.
God did this to test Abraham and Abraham passed the test. Abraham had so much faith that he believed God would raise Isaac from the dead. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he (God) said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Genesis 22:12
There is a blessing when we pass God’s tests. Genesis 22:16-18 says, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”
What are some of the tests you are going through right now? How’s your faith? Are you passing the tests? Don’t forget you can listen to our sermons online at www.christianlifechurch.org.
