God's Test of Abraham

Christ in the Old Testament  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  42:52
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I. Introduction

Over the past year, the Lord has been dealing with me about preaching more messages from the Old Testament.

We may not realize it, but the Old Testament is about 75% of the Bible! It is foundational to our understanding of the New Testament and many things we see in the New Testament simply have no basis, or no foundation without the Old Testament.

For these and other reasons, we need to look at the Old Testament more carefully, thoughtfully, and perhaps more regularly than we do.

Today we begin a new series for the rest of the summer where we will look at pictures, foreshadowings, ‘prequels’ if you will, that speak in the Old Testament about Jesus the Christ. We will look at some of the preparations and announcements God made in the Old Testament about Messiah before sending Jesus into the world.

A look into these kinds of Old Testament “appearances” or “types” of Christ are warranted based on the words of our Lord and Savior. For instance Jesus told the Jews who were seeking to kill him,

John 5:39 ESV
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

Furthermore, after Jesus’ having been raised from the dead, Luke wrote of Jesus’ conversation with those two disciples He met with on the road to Emmaus in this way:

Luke 24:25–27 ESV
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So today we will look at Genesis 22:1-18 to get a preview of Jesus in the Old Testament with a familiar story about Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac.

II. God tests Abraham (vs. 1-6)

A. God calls to Abraham (vs. 1)

B. God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. (v. 2) (Gen 17:19, 21:12)

C. Abraham responds in obedience (vs. 3-6)

1. He rose early to go with two young men and Isaac with him. (v. 3)

2. He cut the wood and left. (3b)

3. They arrived on the third day. (v. 4)

4. Abraham leaves the young men (v. 5)

5. Abraham took the wood and fire and went with Isaac to the place of sacrifice. (v. 6)

III. Isaac questions Abraham (v. 7-8)

A. Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (v. 7)

B. Abraham replies, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (v. 8)

IV. Abraham takes Isaac to be sacrificed (vs. 9-10)

A. They came to the designated place. (v. 9)

1. Abraham built the altar.

2. Abraham laid the wood in order.

3. Abraham bound Isaac and laid him on top of the wood on the altar!

B. Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter Isaac (v. 10)

V. The angel of the LORD calls to Abraham (vs. 11-14)

A. He called Abraham’s name twice. (v. 11)

B. He stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. (v. 12a)

C. He confirmed Abraham’s faithfulness. (v. 12b)

D. He provided a ram in the thicket behind Abraham that he used for the sacrifice. (v. 13)

E. Abraham called the name of the place “The LORD will provide.” (v. 14)

VI. The Angel of the LORD swears to Abraham (vs. 15-18)

A. By myself I have sworn! (vs. 16) (Heb 6:13; Heb 11:17-19; Rom 8:32)

B. I will surely bless, multiply, and give your enemies over to your offspring.

C. In your offspring shall all nations of the earth be blessed. (Gen 12:3, 18:18; 26:4; Gal 3:8)

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