Click here to download in pdf format.
Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (3-3-1996 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
At last God’s promise was fulfilled. Many years before,
the promise of a child had been given; it had been renewed from time to time,
but years went by and still there was no child. But at long last, Abraham and
Sarah had a son, Isaac. No one could doubt the joy and happiness at his arrival,
especially since Abraham and Sarah were so old. There was relief that God had
kept His word. It is not easy to accept God’s timetable when it seems so
different from our own.
Now we come to the greatest
story in the life of Abraham, and one intimately connected with Isaac. This
story foreshadows God’s saving work in Christ; a father giving his only son,
though in fact Christ dies, whereas Isaac did not. There is rich meaning in God
himself will provide the lamb (Genesis 22:8). John the Baptist’s words: Look,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Peter’s
words: For you know that it is not with perishable things… that you were
redeemed…. but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or
defect (1 Peter 1:19). The Lamb is referred to 28 times in the book of
Revelation: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise (Revelation 5:12). The
Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 13:8). They overcame him by the blood
of the lamb (Revelation 12:11).
But now we are going to look at the story through its original significance for the first writer and Abraham, rather than its prophetic meaning. This is a story of unfailing interest, which has strengthened and challenged many.
The story follows a usual pattern in the life of Abraham
– God gives a revelation of Himself, and Abraham is challenged to respond to
that revelation. In planting the tamarisk tree at Beersheba, Abraham
acknowledged that the Lord was the Eternal God (Genesis 21:33). Abraham’s God
was all sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, unaffected by time, always the same,
dependable and unmoved. The question was, how far would Abraham go in his
devotion and service?
Some time later God tested
Abraham (Genesis 22:1). (The A.V. translates this “tempted” – which
can be misleading to our ears, suggesting God enticed him to do wrong. The
Hebrew can mean tempt or try, depending on the context.) God tests, but the
Devil tempts. God tests to see if a person will act in a certain way and to see
the quality of character. Abraham’s life was, in a sense, a series of tests.
Would he put God first and depend on Him alone? So far he had fared well – he
rose to the challenge to leave his father’s home and loved ones and country,
and go out into the unknown. Minor tests prepared him for the major test now.
They had strengthened him, and made his faith grow. Now the supreme test – to
sacrifice his only son, Isaac.
Life is full of tests for the
man of God. It is a constant and daily experience. Then sometimes there is are
the major and supreme crises. The way we meet the big crises is determined by
the way we meet the daily small challenges. If we are used to being guided by
God in small everyday matters, we recognise His guiding hand in great matters,
and do not get panicked by them. If we are used to letting God have His way in
small things, it is second nature to us to let Him have His way in the big
events and decisions.
Israel was tested in the
Wilderness, to make them humble, to see what was in their hearts, and to see if
they would keep the commandments (Deuteronomy 8:2). Jesus tested the faith of
His disciples, and others (Mark 7:27; John 6:6). The point behind all tests,
great or small, is to see if God is supreme in the life. Does He have His way?
In our daily life, when God tests us, is pleasing Him our main concern? When we
are the objects of harsh and untrue criticism, can we bear it, or do we consider
changing our ways to avoid criticism? If there is the chance of advantage for
self because of someone’s ignorance and helplessness, do we take that
opportunity? When we have sinned, do we cover it up with a lie? When we are with
others and are tempted to do wrong, do we go along with the majority rather than
risk rocking the boat? Or does God come first?
Situation can arise at home. We
may want to agree with everyone for the sake of peace and harmony, rather than
stand out and be alone, to please Him. In many and varied ways, we are daily
challenged about whether He is our God. Do we respond at once, or temporarize
and rationalize the situation, thinking up excuses to delay or avoid the
problem? Maybe if I bend or compromise a little here, it will give me more
influence and I will be able to do more good?
So by testing, our character is being shaped, and our
faith is being educated. Someone has said, “Trials are God’s vote of
confidence in us”. The more we are conformed to His will, the closer we get to
Him. It is all part of the discipline of the Christian life. We live in an age
which resents discipline. The watchword is freedom. Let me please myself and do
my own thing. But though irksome, discipline is a necessary part of Christian
life, and essential to maturity of character.
All daily tests are to prepare us for the great crises of life, which are turning points when we make decisions that will affect the rest of our lives. Are you going through a testing time – a test of faith, obedience, and courage? Remember God has your own good at heart. He wants you to grow and be spiritually mature and strong in the Lord. Let Him have His way and you will never regret it. His purpose is not to break you but to bring you within reach of a walk with God you have never known before.
Abraham had already proved his
love for the Lord in several ways. He had left his father and family in Ur. He
had wandered here and there at God’s bidding. He had separated from Lot, and
said goodbye to Ishmael. Now the Lord touched him at the most tender spot. Take
your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2). How this command
must have tugged at Abraham’s heartstrings. Isaac was just at that age when he
was closest to his father. They had so much to share together, but he wasn’t
quite old enough to be independent of his father.
“Your only son” – God
discounted Ishmael, for he was not the son of promise, only Isaac was. He was
the one light in his father’s old age. “Isaac” – what memories that name
awoke, all the promises and hopes that clustered around that name. “Whom you
love” – how much he meant to Abraham, and what a lovely character he was, so
humble and obedient and gentle on this occasion. Why must he die, and by his
father’s hand? Everything came together to make Abraham’s trial the most
severe and heart breaking. And what of God’s promises to bless all families of
the earth through his seed? What of the covenant?
Abraham’s response was swift. Early
the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey… (Genesis 22:3). He
travelled for over two days, every step of the way determined to obey God. The
last part of the journey Abraham and Isaac went ahead on their own, without the
servants. No one to cheer Abraham on, no one to see and admire and flatter. Such
a harrowing experience. The record does not tell us of the sobs and tears,
kisses and heartbreak, as he built the altar, put wood on it, bound and laid his
son on it, and took his knife in hand.
How did he get through? Even
though he could not understand it, Abraham reasoned that God could raise the
dead (Hebrews 11:17-19). Even at the worst moment, he could not believe that
God’s promises and purposes would ultimately fail. God must be God, and He
must triumph.
In supreme crises, Abraham’s
great faith and prompt obedience triumphed. Though he slay me, yet will I
hope in him (Job 13:15). Like Job, Abraham was sure that the Lord was able.
The challenge of the passage is
obvious. Do you love God? Love is shown, not by loud professing and emotional
experiences, but by how much you are prepared to do for a loved one. If you do
love God, is that love shown in obedience? If you love me, you will obey what
I command (John 14:15). Have you given Him everything, and kept nothing back
for yourself? Are you prepared to give the Lord all that you are and all that
you have? Can God have whatever He asks? Does God come before the person who is
nearest and dearest?
Our forefathers often made
covenants with the Lord. They wrote them out, signed and dated them. Thomas
Boston, who had a fruitful ministry in the Borders, wrote, “I do now with all
my heart and soul solemnly resign and give up myself and all my bodily and
spiritual concerns to Christ…. Resolving in His strength to cleave to Him and
His truths so long as I live whatever be the hazard. I hereby solemnly give up
and resign K.B. (Katherine Brown, his wife) to the same Lord Christ that I have
given myself to be his forever. And before the Lord I do with all willingness
subscribe 25 March 1700.”
Could you have written that? Or
do you think that is taking things to far? Just for special Christians? If
anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and
children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be
my disciple (Luke 14:26). This was all implicit in our conversion. Christ
was taken as Saviour and Lord, and this is what lordship implies. This is what
being a New Testament Christian is about.
What is our Isaac, our dearest possession? Is God first, before that one? There is no harm, of course, in loving another. The key question is, who has supreme place?
Abraham soon learned that surrender to God was not a
miserable and unrewarding experience. It was the door into the perfect will of
God and into fullness of joy. Deliverance came at the point of supreme need. The
point of sacrifice became the point of blessing. God gave him his son back. God
did not allow him to kill his son. It was common enough in those days. God tried
and tested along the level of his knowledge, but then showed him a better way.
Abraham learnt God wanted sacrifice in spirit, and not outward act. When he made
a sacrifice in mind and will and with heart, he gave God his dearest possession.
Abraham was then given further
revelation of God’s glorious character. First he knew God as The Lord, the
Covenant God (Genesis 12:1), then as El Elyan, the Most High (Genesis 14:19),
then as El Shaddai, all-sufficient (Genesis 17:1), then, El Alam, the
Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33), and now Jehovah Jirah, the Lord will provide
(Genesis 22:14). What glorious truths, and how wonderful to say, “This is my
God”.
Finally God renewed His
promises. 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 (Genesis 22:16-18). The more completely we give ourselves to
the Lord, the more we have of the fullness of grace and blessing. If we keep
ourselves to ourselves, we are the losers. God’s purpose is to make the very
best of us. When we allow Him to fulfil His purpose for our lives, there is
blessing and His enrichment.
As we lose life, so we gain it. The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them (Psalm 25:14). Francis Ridley Havergal, “It was Advent Sunday, 2nd December 1873, I first saw the blessedness of true consecration. It was like a flood of electric light. What you see, you can never unsee. There must be full surrender before full blessedness. God admits you by one into the other. I just utterly yielded myself to Him.” The she wrote the hymn, “Take my life”.
God calls you to leave your sin, finish planning for your own life and wanting your own way, leave control of all you have and are. Yield your entire self to Him. Say, with Abraham, Here I am (Genesis 22:1).
