37. God Tested Abraham (Gen 22:1-12)

Abraham got the promised son and made a peace treaty with the resident people. It seemed he lacked nothing. But, the end of his journey of faith was not yet.

Please Read Gen 22:1-12

God said to Abraham, “Take your son – your (          ) son, whom you (          ), Isaac – and go and offer him up as (                       ) on a mountain which I (           ) indicate to you.” Abraham left the journey (               ) in the morning.

What was the answer to Isaac’s question, ‘where is the lamb?’

 

How many are ‘father’ or ‘son’ found in verses 6-12?

 

What did God want to know by testing Abraham? (v12)

 

Answers & Meditation

Only, love, a burnt offering, will, early

God asked Abraham for the most precious part of his life.

This command reminded him of the promise of blessing in Gen 12:1. “Go to a place that I WILL show you” is common for both passages. God had promised many descendants in Gen 12. Now, He wants to take the only legitimate son from him. Abraham would have thought, “Does God want to cancel his promise and break up?”

Sometimes, God’s test comes to the degree that we might totally deny God’s salvation.

He was baffled about God’s intention but left early in the next morning. This shows his resolute will to obey God. Also, he wanted to know God’s intention in such a brutal command. He has no reason to hesitate.

God will provide

Multiple meanings are in this answer.

First, he could not tell Isaac that he would be the sacrifice. However, the words that Abraham glossed over became a prophecy. A ram was provided in Isaac's place, and Jesus was provided as the sin offering of His people.

Second, he expected God’s explanation for this command.

A literal translation of ‘God will provide': ‘God will show.’ If we take this translation, Abraham expected God would explain His intention that Abraham was baffled.

Son: seven times, Father: two times

Their conversation shows the intimacy between a son and a father. Such a talk hurt Abraham's heart all the more. 

This image portrays Jesus carrying his cross. And only the Father knew the meaning of the death of His Son. Jesus and the Father, only two alone, climbed up the hill of Calvary.

“I know that you fear God”

Literally speaking, God didn’t test Abraham’s faith here. God didn’t say, ‘I know that you trust God.’

Fearing God is one of the forces that drive us to obedience.

Fear, trust, and love are the three driving forces of our obedience.


God tested Abraham (v1), for I know (v12)

Does God not know Abraham’s heart? Why does God test him? God is omniscient and knows everyone’s heart. But here, we should put aside that knowledge of God as we interpret this passage. It is because the text clearly says, ‘for now I know.’

God wanted to confirm or prove Abraham’s royalty for God.

Remember. God tests our hearts from time to time. And such a test demands us to give up the most precious things in our lives. It could be family or money.

The three days of the journey were the darkest days in Abraham's life. Remember, if you delay your obedience, your darkest days will be added. Until you arrive at the place and obey, God's will and God's heart are hidden from you. 

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