This is Faith | Genesis 22
Word: Test
נָסָה nâçâh, naw-saw'; a primitive root; to test; by implication, to attempt:—adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.
“Now it happened after these things, that God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.”
--Genesis 22:1
This is the same word, “test” used in 1 John 4:1.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
--1 John 4:1
The Greek connotation for this word “test” is to prove a precious metal true—want to know if it is truly silver? Truly gold? Test it, prove it. God is going to test Abraham, He is going to prove Abraham’s faith which is why God calls Abraham to give up His son.
“The earth is Yahweh’s, as well as its fullness, The world, and those who dwell in it, For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.”
--Psalm 24:1-2
- God tests Abraham to prove Abraham’s faith. This is why God allows His people to go through trial—so they may grow.
This chapter in scripture one of the most controversial and troubling chapters in all of God’s word. Many people criticize the sacrifice of Isaac saying “how could go ask Abraham to kill his son?” Others question God’s sovereignty with this story saying Abraham changed God’s mind as God offered the ram in place of Isaac when Abraham was ready to kill Isaac.
What is truly happening in Genesis 22?
“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only one, whom you love, Isaac, and go forth to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.’”
--Genesis 22:2
Word: Burnt Offering
עֹלָה ʻôlâh, o-law'; or עוֹלָה ʻôwlâh; feminine active participle of H5927; a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to.
This active participle is an action that is being performed or taken—Olaw means to actively step up, to go up or ascend an offering. God is telling Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and to offer up Isaac as an offering of worship to Him—to take Isaac up.
Abraham knows what a burnt offering is. He has grown up knowing what a pleasing atoning sacrifice is to God.
“Then Noah built an altar to Yahweh and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma; and Yahweh said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done.’”
--Genesis 8:20-21
Abraham has built some altars to God. He built an altar at the oak of Moreh after receiving the blessing from God (Genesis 12:7). He built an altar in between Bethel and Ai (Genesis 12:8). He built an altar at the oaks of Mamre (Genesis 13:18). This will be the next altar he will build so an Ola (burnt offering) can be a pleasing Aroma to God—this is how Abraham is interpreting God’s command.
- A sacrifice is necessary to cover the sins of humanity—pure blood must cover tainted blood to give true salvation from Sin.
“And he shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. Then he shall slaughter the young bull before Yahweh; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring near the blood and splash the blood around on the altar that is at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And he shall then skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.”
--Leviticus 1:4-7
This act of worship may seem barbaric, it may seem weird, but it is necessary for the atonement of Adam and Eve’s sin—the inherited sin of the world. Atonement in Hebrew means “covering or to cover over.” The innocent, spotless blood of the animal will cover the sin of the guilty person.
This picture of sacrifice is setting the stage for the ultimate picture of salvation for the entire world—this is all foreshadowing of what is to come, of what we celebrate as a church this week.
“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from a distance. And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there; and we will worship, and we will return to you.’”
--Genesis 22:3-5
There was knowledge of this practice of sacrifice which even Isaac himself knew about. We can find this in the conversation between Abraham and Isaac.
“Then Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’ And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’ And he said, ‘Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ And Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ So the two of them walked on together.”
--Genesis 22:7-8
God didn’t tell Abraham to specifically kill his son—but rather to prepare his son as a burnt offering. Verse 8 shows us the amount of faith Abraham had in God. I think that Abraham always thought God would provide a substitute instead of going through with offering Isaac as a sacrifice. Yet, Abraham knew what he had to do and was faithful to God in God’s test.
Isaac would have made a poor burnt offering because he isn’t spotless, yes he is the child of promise, but he is born into sin, imperfect and his blood would not cover any sin.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
--Romans 6:23
God lovingly provided a ram to atone for their sin. God substituted a perfect sacrifice so Isaac did not have to be killed—this ram gave Isaac life, gave him hope, gave him a new lease on life. God always knew Isaac wouldn’t be killed.
“And He said, ‘Do not stretch out your hand against the boy, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.’ Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there was a ram after it had been caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.”
--Genesis 22:12-13
Abraham passes the test. His faith is proven true and he now has one of the greatest testimonies in all of Christianity. A moment which foreshadows something that will change the world—which happens approximately 2000 years after this moment.
“Then the angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, declares Yahweh, because you have done this thing and have not spared your son, your only one, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.’”
--Genesis 22:15-18
- Jesus is the spotless lamb who will give His life on the cross; His pureblood will cover our sin and bring us into His glory.
Just as Abraham and Isaac came to Mt. Moriah on a donkey (Gen. 22:3), Jesus, came into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:6-8).
Just as Abraham was willing to give his son as a burnt offering, so God gave up His son as the ultimate burnt offering
Just as Abraham knew what was to happen event though Isaac was confused with where the lamb was; It was confusing that Jesus rode in to shouts of praise “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9) But three days later they would want Christ crucified. Jesus knew what was to happen later that week as Abraham knew more than Isaac. Genesis 22 has set up the stage for the ultimate story, the ultimate plan, that will save humanity from their sin.
“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous.”
--Romans 5:18-19
“In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have listened to My voice.”
--Genesis 22:18
Jesus is the “Ola” which Isaac was supposed to be. He is the pleasing aroma to God; the perfect sacrifice who has saved humanity from their sins, who’s pure blood has covered our imperfect blood.
“Genesis 22 is not asking you if you would be willing to kill your child. The real question is can you trust God when obedience feels dangerous? When the implications of stepping out in faith are frightening and when the outcome is not explained to you in advance.”
--Nate Sala
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
--Ephesians 5:1-7