Life's Longest Journey - Genesis 22

Intro

The account of the sacrifice of Isaac is a remarkable document of exceptional situation in Abram's life. It is a tale without criterion or parallel in Old Testament.

 

It was without criterion due to the fact that Jehovah God had never ever demanded human sacrifice.

It was without parallel due to the fact that no one else had ever before been regulated to do it.

 

Scene - suffering, brokenness, absence of understanding, illogical - boy of guarantee now to be compromised to the God that gave him. Surrounding pagans had regularly supplied their kids as a sacrifice to their gods, but not to Jehovah.

 

As well as what would he tell Sarai? How could he face her? No creative imagination could expose the tumult and chaos in Abram's heart and mind as he journeyed into Moriah.

 

He was young, energetic - currently life was to be taken from him. The key is that God was "testing" Abram. Notification some aspects of life's longest journey.

 

I. The Certainty of this trip.

" After these points." It needs to and it does come. And also for several, it comes frequently. God respects your heart. He tests the purity of your love as well as the consistency of your obedience.

 

Rom. 14:10 -12, "For we need to all stand prior to the judgment seat of God. For it is composed: As I live, claims the Lord, every knee will certainly bow to Me, and also every tongue will provide praise to God. So after that, each people will certainly give an account of himself to God."

 

2 Cor. 5:10, "For we should all appear prior to the judgment seat of Christ, so that each might be settled wherefore he has actually done in the body, whether good or negative."

 

God is severe concerning your partnership with Him. Things that are usual to guys as well as females of all times and also cultures.

- Relocation: from Ur of Chaldees to Haran and also ultimately to the area near Hebron. At different times Abram resided in Shechem, Bethel, Hebron and also Beer-sheba.

- Sorrow: his dad Terah died in Haran.

- Economic collapse: famine drove him to Egypt for survival.

- Deception and also failing: he lied regarding Sarai being his partner.

- Success: he prosper and powerful near Bethel.

- Family argument/disagreement: separated from Lot. Abram goes to rescue.

 

God assures Abram a son. Changing experience with God. Names altered to Abraham and Sarah.

These are points common to mankind. This trip came to pass "after these points." As well as it will for each and every people.

 

II. The engaging urgency of this journey.

" Take your boy and also go" It should be taken care of currently. It can not wait! God's time is always "currently.", "Now is the acceptable time, appearance, now is the day of salvation.", "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.".

 

"Come currently, you who state, "Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and also such a city as well as invest a year there and work and also earn a profit. You don't also understand what tomorrow will certainly bring - what your life will be! For you are a little smoke that stands for a bit, then vanishes.".

 

Imagine the difficulty of this journey, the suffering and also the despair.

 

III. The consistent arrangement of this journey.

" land of Moriah." "Moriah" implies "given by Jehovah." These hills in Moriah are gifts of His never-failing love as well as grace. Without this experience we would catch the most dread type of chains. We would be utterly reliant upon the momentary things around us. Fear of loss would certainly incapacitate us. The Mountains of Moriah totally free us from the cruel chains of concern.

 

IV. The clear function of this trip.

" Now I recognize ... honor you." The everlasting function of God is to bless us and also to bring us ever back right into His loving arms, without earthly worry of loss, danger or failure.

Secure in his presence: Ps. 91:1 -2, "The one that lives under the defense of one of the most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. I will claim to the Lord, 'My refuge and my citadel, my God, in whom I rely on.'".

 

V. The contending top priorities of the journey.

" your only boy whom you enjoy ... offer him as a burned offering.".

The present of God had ended up being more crucial to Abraham than the God who offered the gift. Completely best and also normal for daddy to like his kid, however the excellent rule is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your spirit, as well as with all your toughness" (Deut. 6:5).

 

Abraham's child had taken God's place in his life. God will never ever enable that to happen without whispering in your ear, "Take currently thy kid ...".

 

This conflicting of concerns happens to us so quickly. We puzzle His gifts and also His possessions with Him, and quickly we have left our puppy love. Rev. 2:4, "I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you contended first." The church at Ephesus made a purposeful selection. Lit. "deserted their first love." Picking in between concerns, we usually make the wrong option.

 

Do you keep in mind just how it went to initially? Exactly how pleasant, fresh as well as genuine your love for Jesus was? Fresh love wants to give all for Him.

 

God knows where or when your obedience of love came to be the obedience of duty, and you went about doing His work, yet not His will. Perhaps it first started to display in our speech. We discussed things of Jesus as opposed to Jesus: i.e. His home, His youngsters, His kingdom, His rate of interests, His delight, His tranquility, His true blessing, and so on.

 

These points that take His place can be:.

- Family: Mark. 1:20 (James & John).

- Possessions: Mark 10:21 (Rich Young Ruler).

- Position: (Job).

- Church/fellowship: Matt. 17:8 (saw Jesus only).

- Dreams/Ambitions.

 

There are lots of mountains in Moriah, and also so there are numerous mountains for you in your trip. What is it that stands between you as well as God today?

 

For Abraham it took three days' trip right into the desert. It needs to come to pass in order for God to honor you with Himself.

 

When God calls there are no regrets. I attempted to share my heart with you as much as feasible, my heart for the Nations. I had not been called to a place.

 

Expect even more than some think is possible. I was called not to convenience or success yet to obedience.".

 

VI. The conquering elegance of the journey: v. 11-14.

" Do not lay a hand on the child or do anything to him, in the meantime I understand you are afraid God, since you have not kept your only kid from me. Abraham sought out and saw a ram captured by its horns in the thicket. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a charred offering in place of his child. And Abraham named that place the Lord Will Provide, so today it is stated: "' It will be offered on the Lord's hill.'".

 

God never ever meant to take Isaac - just to check Abraham. And the test was not for God's benefit, however, for Abraham's. God intended to bring Abraham to full abandonment to Himself and to full belief.

"By belief Abraham, when he was tested, used up Isaac. He took into consideration God to be able also to increase someone from the dead, from which he also obtained him back as a picture.".

 

As well as it got on a mountain in the land of Moriah that our Lord became our sacrifice. Impressive Grace!

 

boy of pledge currently to be sacrificed to the God that supplied him. The gift of God had ended up being extra crucial to Abraham than the God who offered the present. Flawlessly right as well as typical for father to love his child, however the excellent commandment is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your heart, and also with all your stamina" (Deut." Do not lay a hand on the kid or do anything to him, for currently I recognize you fear God, given that you have actually not kept your only son from me. God never ever planned to take Isaac - only to evaluate Abraham.