THE TRIAL OF ABRAHAMS FAITH

Gem 22:1-14

Morning Meditation 1/22/2013

Faith is precious in God’s sight: 2 Peter 1:1, "Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" God chose to try Abraham’s faith. This will be a study of that trial.

THE SACRIFICE OF FAITH

Genesis 22:2, "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

Isaac was the son of Abraham’s love. He is the seed through which the Messiah will come. Ishmael is not counted as a son in the Messianic line.

THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH

Genesis 22:3, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him."

“And Abraham rose up early” speaks of Abraham’s immediate obedience. This is an example for us to follow. We serve a great king. He is the creator of the universe and our wonderful Saviour. Someone has said, “The greatest discovery is the find God’s will and the greatest accomplishment is to do God’s will.

THE EXPECTATION OF FAITH

Genesis 22:5, "And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."

Abraham said, “I and the lad will worship and come again.” Abraham believed that God would raise him from the dead. Hebrews 11:18-19, "Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." This was the greatest trial of faith found in the Scripture besides that of the Lord Jesus.

THE WORK OF FAITH

Genesis 22:6, "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together." Abraham’s laying the wood on Isaac is a picture of Jesus bearing His cross. Faith that does not work is dead being alone.

Good works are the visible evidence of our faith.

THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH

Genesis 22:8, "And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."

Abraham was assured that God would provide a lamb for a burnt offering. If God did not provide a lamb for a burnt offering then Isaac would have to be that lamb.

The persistence of faith

Genesis 22:9-10, "And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." True faith does not stop short. Abraham was going all the way. There was two who had this kind of faith, Abraham and Jesus. Jesus said “I have power to lay my life down and I have power to take it up again.” And He did!

THE VICTORY OF FAITH

Genesis 22:12, "And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White