Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr

This chapter is, I think, in many ways the clearest picture we have in the Old Testament of Calvary and of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us. This story is found in Genesis 22, so please turn with me now to this passage and let us discover anew the act of faith and its rewards.

Genesis 22

Key Words: "God tested Abraham"; "we"; "God will provide"

Key Verse: Verses 5 and 6 demonstrate Abraham's confidence in what God was going to do, although he did not know what that was.

Purpose Statement: This chapter, besides sharing the great testing of Abraham's faith, presents a picture of Calvary.

Outline: The Testing of Abraham's Faith

I. God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (vs. 1-2)
II. Abraham's obedience (vs. 3-10)
III. God's intervention to spare Isaac (vs. 11-14)
IV. God reaffirms His covenant with Abraham (vs. 15-19)
V. Abraham's nephews (vs. 20-24)

Questions to Probe: Why did God feel that Abraham needed to be tested in this way? Could Abraham have been possessive of Isaac?

Thoughts to Ponder: This chapter contains one of the poignant stories in all the Old Testament. I have often wondered what went through Abraham's mind those three days as they walked to Moriah. Perhaps the young Isaac was filled with excitement. Perhaps this was the first time he and his father had made a trip like this. In his heart I believe Abraham was crying out to God, "why?" Abraham had believed the promises of God and now God was asking him to slay the one through whom the promises would be fulfilled. "God, this just doesn't make any sense!" Yet, the author of the text informs us that Abraham was very confident God would do something, even if God had to raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). Each one of us has our own "Isaac", that which we love so dearly; that which we would struggle so intensely with giving up. God does call upon us to go to Moriah and there offer that as a sacrifice to Him. God cannot fully bless us until we have yielded ourselves fully to Him and that means surrendering our "Isaacs." Now God will not necessarily remove them from us; His desire is to know that we would surrender them to Him. I think Abraham had a greater love for Isaac after Moriah because he had been willing to surrender him to God.

We are not told the age of Isaac, but the term used of him here is similar to that used of Ishmael in the previous chapter and we know that Ishmael was at least fourteen. Isaac was big enough to be able to carry the wood for the offering, so might have been as old as his teens. If so, then he also had to make a decision to allow his father to bind him as a sacrifice. Abraham's faith was being transmitted to his son. I pray that my children and grandchildren will see and want to model my faith.

Jehovah-jireh (verse 14) is a wonderful name for God. Yes, He is our great provider so we should not worry or fret. He is aware of what our needs are - in Abraham's case it was a lamb for the sacrifice - and He will provide it for us. I like the way Peter expressed it: Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Christ on our cross is the way Calvary really reads. For He died for us - in our place. We, then, are debtors. Strange, that so often we act like we owe nothing. (C. Neil Strait)

Genesis 21 Return to Table of Contents Genesis 23