2002-11-23 - Faith

Part 2

Encore 1999-01-30

C. Man's way vs. God's way

The best way to solve any problem is God's way. Hagar had forgotten God's  promise in 16:10; otherwise she would not have lost heart. God did sustain  them and keep His Word. If we obey Him, He will always open the way and solve  the problem.

II. A Test from the Neighbors (21:22-34)

Believers must be careful in their relationship to "those who are outside"  (Col. 4:5; 1 Thes. 4:12; 1 Tim. 3:7, NKJV). Abraham had a good testimony  before his unsaved neighbors, and the conflict over the well could have  ruined it for good. Note that Abraham agreed to settle the problem in a  businesslike way”"Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Cor.  14:40) Abraham and his neighbors exchanged the proper gifts and made the  proper sacrifices for sealing a covenant. The place where the covenant was  made was called Beersheba, "the well of the oath," and it became a place of  prayer and communion for Abraham. It is important that tests that we face in  the neighborhood or business be settled in a Christian way. (See Rom. 12:18  for further clarification.)

III. The Test from the Lord (22:1-24)

Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but God tests us to help bring out the best. (See James 1:12-15). The most severe tests do not come from people, but from the Lord, and yet the greatest blessings always accompany  them. God never tested Lot in this way. Lot lived on such a low level that  Sodom and the world tested him. It is the saint that walks closest to the  Lord, that God tests the greatest for His glory.

A. The typical lesson

This event is a wonderful type of Christ, the only Son who was willing to  give His life to please His Father. Both Isaac and Christ were promised sons;  both were born miraculously (Of course, Christ was born of the Virgin Mary  and was sinless). Both brought joy to the heart of the father; both were born  at the set time. Both were persecuted by their brethren and both were  obedient unto death. Christ was crucified between two thieves, and the two  young men went with Isaac (v. 3). Isaac questioned his father, and Jesus  asked, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46, NKJV) Of course,  Christ actually died, while Isaac was spared. However, in God's sight, Isaac  had "died." Hebrews 11:19 says that "in a figure" (that is, symbolically)  Isaac was raised from the dead. Verse 19 indicates that Abraham returned to  the waiting servants, but nothing is said about Isaac. This, too, is a type;  for the next time we see Isaac, he is receiving his bride! (24:62ff) Even so,  Christ gave Himself on the cross and went back to heaven, and one day will  come forth to receive His Bride, the church.

B. The practical lesson

True faith is always tested. Of course, God did not want Isaac's life; He  wanted Abraham's heart. Isaac was dear to Abraham, and God wanted to be sure  that Isaac was not an idol standing between Him and Abraham. It was possible  that Abraham was trusting Isaac to fulfill the promises, and not trusting  God.

How did Abraham go through this test? For one thing, he rested on God's  promises (Heb. 11:17-19). God had promised Abraham many descendants, and this  promise could not be fulfilled unless Isaac lived or God raised him from the  dead. Abraham knew that God would not lie, so he rested in His unchanging  Word. Someone has said, "never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the  light." Abraham obeyed without delay.

If we do the one thing God tells us to do, He will reveal the next step when  the right time comes. God's answers never arrive a minute too late! God supplied a ram just when one was needed. This is why Abraham called the name  of the place "Jehovah-Jireh—the Lord will see to it!"

C. The prophetic lesson

This event took place on Mt. Moriah (22:2), the place where the temple was  eventually built (2 Chron. 3:1). Isaac had asked, "Where is the lamb?" but God had supplied a ram. The answer to his question came in the Person of  Christ: "Behold! The Lamb of God!" (John 1:29) Abraham had said, "In the mount of the Lord, it shall be seen" (v. 14). Christ was seen in the temple,  and then slain on Mt. Calvary. (See John 8:56 also).

D. The doctrinal lesson

James 2:14-26 discusses the relationship between faith and works, and James  uses this event to illustrate his main point: True faith is always proved by obedience. Note the accurate translation of James 2:21. Was not Abraham our  father justified by works, in that he offered his son upon the altar?"  Abraham was not saved when he offered Isaac, for he had been saved years  before when he trusted God's promise (Gen. 15:6). James is not telling us  that we are saved by works or by sacrifices, but that the proof of saving  faith is an obedient life (see Rom. 4:1-5 and Gal. 3:6ff).

In His Service,
Rick & Sandy

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