THE ARRESTED SACRIFICE

GENESIS 22:1

A. "TAKE NOW THY SON, THINE ONLY SON ISAAC, WHOM THOU LOVEST, AND GET THEE INTO THE LAND OF MORIAH; AND OFFER HIM THERE FOR A BURNT OFFERING UPON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS WHICH I WILL TELL THEE OF"
  1. This is the story in the Bible which stands out from the pages of God's Word in more than one way:
    1. As a piece of literature it is full of heart-touching pathos
    2. It excites the admiration of all lovers of descriptive literature
  2. The grandeur of the story of our text is seen:
    1. In the test God put to Abraham; "Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest...and offer him...for a burnt offering"
    2. In the degree of Abraham's love for God in that he proceeded to carry out the command of God - Gen. 22:3-10
    3. And, finally, in the end or outcome of the test God applied to Abraham--the Arrested Sacrifice - Gen. 22:11-14
B. LET US TAKE A CLOSER, PRAYERFUL LOOK AT THE ARRESTED SACRIFICE
  1. "And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham" - Gen. 22:1
    1. He tested him
    2. God did this with his people on numerous occasions - for example:
    3. Israel at the waters of Meribah - Ps. 81:7; God's personal appearance on Mount Sinai to speak to Israel with tan audible voice - Ex. 20:20; the giving of bread from heaven Ex. 16:4
  2. Object of the proving or testing:
    1. To establish the degree of man's affections and love for God - Gen. 22:12
    2. Loving obedience to the will of God is that test - John 14:15; 15:10 -- "Greater love hath no man than this" - John 15:13
    3. To determine the quality of our faith in the divine providence--God is interested in the quality of our faith
    4. Examples: The centurion--Matt. 8:10; the Canaanites - Matt. 15:28; the poor widow - Mark 10:52
C. THE ARRESTED SACRIFICE AND ITS FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS
  1. Abraham's experience on Mount Moriah will ever stand out as a most revealing test of:
    1. The quality of faith of which God approves--a faith which will not stagger at God's promises - Rom. 4:20
    2. Abraham offered Isaac because he believed that God would give him back to him by the resurrection - Heb. 11:17-19
  2. Abraham's sacrifice of his only son became:
    1. A type of God's sacrifice in the gift of His only begotten Son - John 3:16
    2. It became a memorial of what love to God can and will do at any price
  3. The place where Abraham offered up Isaac became:
    1. The center for all the temple sacrifices of God's ancient covenant people
    2. Whenever Israel brought a sacrifice to God they were reminded of the great sacrifice of their father Abraham
  4. What a lesson for God's professed people in all ages:
    1. How firmly is our faith based upon the provision of Heaven?
    2. Do we love God to a point when we give unhesitatingly whatever the Lord asks us to give?
    3. When we give of our best to the Master, do we look beyond the moment of the giving to its end results?
  5. The arrested sacrifice in review:
    1. The experience of Abraham in the sacrifice of Isaac his son challenges us to compare our sacrifices for God and His cause to those of that man of faith
    2. Do we have faith that God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we can bear?
    3. Have we experienced the divine providence in the darkest experiences of our Christian life?
    4. How wonderful it is to know that when we are tested by God it is for our good and will bring glory to Him that loved us and gave the best gift of heaven for our redemption!


Design © John Bryant 2011