Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this evening is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Gen. 22. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Abraham is described in Hebrews 11 as one of the great heroes of faith. He is also described as the “father of faith.” He is the father of Israel, called by God to establish a people that knew Him and the greatness of His love for us, and His promise of a Savior in Whom “all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,” a promised fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham and the Son of God.
- So, how does Abraham come to be a great hero of faith? Well, he was not one by nature – when God called him he was an idolater living in what is now Iraq. And in his earthly life, as described in Holy Scripture, he often failed in faith and holiness. No, by nature Abraham was just a normal guy, a regular “Joe,” just like you and I.
- But we see in our text that “God tested Abraham.” And this is a connection that we need to see and learn about, the relationship of “TESTING AND FAITH.” For if we learn this relationship then we will come to understand our own experiences in life, including our times of testing, in a way that builds and strengthens our faith and trust in God and His love.
- We may not become great heroes of faith, but we might – if we allow God to bless us through testing and His Word. For most of us are aware that like Abraham:
I. God Tests Our Faith In Strange Ways
Text: “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here am I.’ He said, ‘Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”
Statement: If you have read the previous chapters leading up to this incident, it is difficult to find these words of God fathomable. God had promised this son Isaac to Abraham, even after he and Sarah were beyond being able to have children. Isaac was a miracle, a unique and special blessing of God to Abraham and Sarah. In addition, God had promised many offspring to Abraham through his son Isaac, and had even promised the blessed “seed” through Isaac, in Whom all nations would be blessed. So this test, the command of God to kill Isaac, was contrary to the Word and promises of God.
Secondly, God’s law is written into our hearts, so that all people know the wickedness and evil of killing another human being, and we find it especially despicable that any human being could kill their own child, or even contemplate it. So this test, this command of God to kill, goes against the very nature of God and His own law against murder.
Thirdly, in view of the idolatrous practices of people committing human sacrifices to false gods, this testing of Abraham is baffling – how could it be that God, the only True and Living God, the God Who is love, would possibly allow Himself to be confused with such ignorant, wicked, malevolent, and wretched idolatry? But of course, we need to read to the end – as should all who are tempted by this wicked confusion.
Application: We do not face such hideous and excruciatingly strange “testings,” but we do face strange and irresolvable dilemmas to our faith. We see all around us the wicked prospering, and we see that in the world there are many instances of God’s people suffering poverty, persecution, and even martyrdom. Doing evil sometimes helps people prosper and flourish, and sometimes doing the right thing brings suffering and hardship to people. At times God does not seem to punish wickedness or reward good. We also are called to love the unlovable and to forgive the unforgivable. And all of these things test our faith – and test us at times excruciatingly. But as we see in our text:
II. God Resolves Our Trials In Wondrous Ways
A. He Provides What We Need To Keep His Word And Do What Is Right
Text: “Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’”
B. He Reveals Himself To Us Ultimately, All Of His Grace, Mercy, And Love For Us, In Our Trials
Text: “He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’”
Statement: Often our testings and temptations have to do with lack – God has promised but has not yet provided what we need. As we read this text in totality we learn that God does indeed provide, and that faith in His provision is always justified. And sometimes our testings and temptations have to do with giving up something that is precious to us, or even something that we consider essential to our survival or well-being – like our offerings. As we read this text in its entirety, we learn that when we are willing to give our all God restores whatever we have given, all that is essential and precious to us.
Application: Even when our trials and testings make it appear that God is evil, this is never the case. We may be evil, and our temptations may be quite egregious, but God is always good, and in the end this is always borne out! For when our trials are over God is always clearly seen to be good, kind, gracious, merciful, forgiving, loving, caring, and providing. And it is this experience, of testing and receiving God’s deliverance and love, that strengthens and increases our faith and trust in Him. And for virtually all of us, this process endures and increases throughout our lifetime!
Transition: And finally we see in our text that:
III. As God Enables Us To Prevail In Our Tests And Strengthens Us In Faith, That He Blesses Us Even More Abundantly
Text: “The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld you son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’”
Statement: Jesus said the same to His disciples when Peter asked Him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus promised Peter and His disciples that after their testing and trials that they would receive even more abundant blessings than they had given up. He assured them: “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.” Jesus said “everyone,” and that includes us. We too, whatever we are tested to give up and suffer as loss in our life of faith and discipleship, will be restored to us multiplied in abundance – in addition to the gift of eternal life, which is invaluable, impossible to calculate the value of.
Application: And so we too have faith and knowledge of God’s great love for us, and His promises to bless us abundantly in and through our trials, testings, and tribulations. They may be strange and difficult, excruciating to our common sense, our reason, and our assumptions, but if we continue in faith we will certainly see God’s deliverance and His goodness and love, and our faith will be strengthened. And in the end we will see that God delivers on His promises to bless us with more than we can ever give to Him.
Conclusion: We all have such testings from God – through which He seeks to bless us with even greater faith and to bless us with greater faithfulness to Him. His goodness always prevails in the end, so that He graciously gives us even greater blessings. So we live by faith, and by faith we are granted greater understanding, peace, security, happiness, and blessedness.
“TESTING AND FAITH” – these are the greatest blessings God gives to us; may we give Him our thanks and praise, as we continue to put all trust in Him. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.