Here it is. THE famous story. Here are some points to note:
1. Abraham obeyed immediately: "Early the next morning..."
2. Abraham may have thought, after God's promise in Genesis 15:4-6, that Isaac was the promised Messiah. Note verse 5, where Abraham tells his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. WE will worship and then WE will come back to you." "We" both times. Abraham had no idea of the impact of his statement when he told Isaac that God would provide the lamb. It appears, then, that there is a good possibility that Abraham thought his son Isaac was the Lamb of God!
3. God refers to Isaac as Abraham's ONLY son! verse 12. Interesting...
It is after this that Abraham received the promise, for the third time, that his descendants will be too numerous to count. In addition, the promise of the Messiah is again referred to, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
This reminds me of what Christ told His disciples: If you love me, you will obey me. No wonder Abraham is the father of those in the faith!
The chapter closes with Abraham receiving the news that his brother has had eight sons. One of them, we know, will grow to the the father of Rebekah, who will become Isaac's wife in later years.
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The part of the essay that has to do with this part of Abraham's life is below:
[ June 22, 2002, 01:59 AM: Message edited by: Helen ]
1. Abraham obeyed immediately: "Early the next morning..."
2. Abraham may have thought, after God's promise in Genesis 15:4-6, that Isaac was the promised Messiah. Note verse 5, where Abraham tells his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. WE will worship and then WE will come back to you." "We" both times. Abraham had no idea of the impact of his statement when he told Isaac that God would provide the lamb. It appears, then, that there is a good possibility that Abraham thought his son Isaac was the Lamb of God!
3. God refers to Isaac as Abraham's ONLY son! verse 12. Interesting...
It is after this that Abraham received the promise, for the third time, that his descendants will be too numerous to count. In addition, the promise of the Messiah is again referred to, "and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
This reminds me of what Christ told His disciples: If you love me, you will obey me. No wonder Abraham is the father of those in the faith!
The chapter closes with Abraham receiving the news that his brother has had eight sons. One of them, we know, will grow to the the father of Rebekah, who will become Isaac's wife in later years.
+++++++++++++++++
The part of the essay that has to do with this part of Abraham's life is below:
His faith: According to the Bible, Abraham knew the promise of God regarding a Messiah who was to die for the sins of the world and rise again (Galatians 3:6-18). He also knew the Messiah would be one of his descendants through Sarah. It is also possible that Abraham may have thought that Isaac was himself the promised Messiah, not knowing that Messiah was to come from his lineage at a considerably later time, but we cannot be sure. However, when God told Abraham to take his son Isaac, whom he loved so much, and kill him as a sacrifice, Abraham began to obey immediately and was within moments of killing his son when God stopped him. Abraham, however, clearly believed his son would be resurrected if killed, for God had promised the Messianic line would be through Isaac. So when he left his servants behind to wait for him to go up to the mountain with Isaac, where he was planning to sacrifice his son, he nevertheless said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you" (Gen. 22:5). The second 'we' says it all. Abraham’s faith was incredible. In memorial of this event, the high point of Abraham’s walk with God, he named that place “Jehovah-jireh” (“the Lord will provide”).
[ June 22, 2002, 01:59 AM: Message edited by: Helen ]