After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “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 one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
SERMON POINTS
Abraham’s life has been marked by a growing relationship with God. His life with God is proof that at times GROWING AND GAINING in God looks like LEAVING AND LOSING in Life.
1.
- I’m Listening for His Voice
22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
2.
- I won’t lag in my obedience
22:3 So Abraham ROSE EARLY in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac.
3.
- I won’t limit God’s ability.
22:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
CR Hebrews 11:19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
4.
- I’ll leave some things and some people behind
22:5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
5.
- I’ll allow God to lead me
22:8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.
22:9 When they came TO THE PLACE of which God had told him,
6.
- I’ll lay down what I love to love HIM more!
22:10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
7.
- I’ll live to see the reward of obedience.
- Abraham’s sacrificial obedience is rewarded. See Genesis 22:15-18
Don’t miss your moment or your miracle being out of place!
Key Question: How much time do I devote to teaching my children about relationship with God?
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