God’s tests are opportunities for our faith to grow

Outline: Test #1:The Severe Sacrifice: 22 Akedah= “the binding” Abraham puts God first in his life A. God’s Command v1,2 B. Abraham’s Obedience v3-10 C. God’s Approval v11-24 Test #2: The Sad Farewell: 23 Abraham buries Sarah in Promised Land A. Abraham’s Griefv1,2 B. Sarah’s Gravev3-20

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.James 1:13

The testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything James 1:3,4

hineni = here I am This term indicates readiness, alertness, attentiveness, receptivity and responsiveness to instructions. Jewish Study Bible

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 the dead Hebrews 11:17-19

na’ar = young man

Holding things loosely

Doctrine of Substitution: life can be preserved only at the cost of life given.

Genesis 22 as a Picture of Calvary: 1. Place = v3 Moriah Luke 23:33 “the place” 2. Wood= v6 Issac carried his own wood John 19:17 “carrying his own cross” The image of Isaac’s carrying the wood on which he is to be burned adds enormous power to the story. A midrash relates this to a Roman (not Jewish) method of execution that was sometimes used on Jewish martyrs “It’s like a person who carries his cross on his own shoulders” Jewish Study Bible

3. Submission= v9 John 10:18 “I lay it down on my own initiative…” 4. God’s Provision= v8, 13 John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son…” 5. Sacrifice accepted= v12 Mt 28:6 The Empty Tomb, The Resurrection At Calvary: Christ died for our sins

God will provide = Jehovah Jireh, Adonai Yireh

Death is not extinguishing the light, it is only putting out the lamp because the Dawn has come Tagore