Genesis Chapter 22

Proving of True Faith

Messianic prophecies and promises that reach down through the ages are found in this powerful chapter of Genesis. This will change forever how you view your Creator God, His Son Jesus, Yeshua in Hebrew, and the Holy Spirit. God is Eternal. How does worship, faith, and obedience all impact our lives? Please understand that we will be seeing some figures of speech that will have multiple meanings, such as SIMILE: Resemblance; ALLEGORY: comparison by representation; METAPHOR: Representation; HYPOCATASTASIS: An implied resemblance or representation; TYPE: A figure or example of something future; ANALOGY: Resemblance in some particulars between things otherwise unlike. Keep these in mind and be prepared for some amazing Truths to be revealed to your heart and soul.

22:1

‘It came to pass’ almost always refers to a long period of time, certainly quite a few years have passed since the birth and weaning of Isaac. The term ‘TEMPT’, or Test, is misunderstood in the translation. It actually is the Hebrew word ‘nacah’ and refers to a sure or certain way of proving something beyond a doubt. This proof was to be so powerful that all peoples, especially Abraham, would understand and comprehend the depth of true godly Forever Faith. When God calls your name, do you hear Him? Are you in prayer, faith and fellowship with God so that you DO hear when He calls you! We often miss God’s call to us, because we have put other concerns ahead of our personal prayer and study time with our Lord, God and Savior. If you have NEVER heard God call you, then it is certainly time to begin seeking and searching diligently for your Lord, God and Creator. Begin with His Word, the source of all Truth.

22:2

Notice that immediately God begins to tell Abraham what He wants him to do. Did you notice that God refers to Abraham’s ONLY SON, Isaac, whom he LOVES. This reference to ‘only son’ is crucial, as Isaac is the ONLY SON between Abraham and Sarah, and he alone is the ‘promise child’. Also this is the first mention of LOVE! The law of ‘first mention’ must be remembered here, as it has special significance. In each of the Gospels the first mention of Love is the Father saying “This is My beloved Son” This is a direct reference to this prophetic request. God also told Abraham to ‘offer’ Isaac, and he assumed this meant to kill Isaac, and must have been a terrible shock to Abraham, yet we do not see him question God in any way. When God speaks to us it is always for a purpose. God doesn’t just say “Hi there, how are you today?” We must pray to listen and understand when God speaks to our hearts and minds. When, you truly seek a personal, intimate relationship with your Creator, you will hear Him speak to you. God’s Word is filled with words of wisdom, revelation, guidance, warnings, inspiration, encouragement, conviction, and other areas for our lives, all for our benefit and hearing. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17: “ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work.” It’s time to listen carefully, and heed the Words of God, our Savior, that we claim to Love.

22:3-4

So how did Abraham respond? We see immediate obedience from Abraham, as he rises early in the morning and saddles his donkey, prepares the wood for the burnt offering; taking two of his young men and his beloved son, Isaac; and begins the trip to the place God told him to go. We are not told that Isaac, who probably was in his late teens or early twenties; even questioned his father about where they were going, or why. Yet the significance of the three days of travel is important, as it is on the third day that Abraham sees the place in the distance. In his heart Abraham considered that Isaac was already as good as dead for the entire three days of travel. (How many days was Jesus dead?) Can you imagine the way Abraham must have felt? His mind must have been in turmoil, thinking, about what he felt he had to do to his son; and how was God going to fulfill His promises. Yet, he knew God is always faithful. Abraham chose to trust God, regardless of the circumstances. We aren’t given the details, yet all these thoughts MUST have been in his mind. All we know is that Abraham obeyed God out of TRUE FAITH AND TOTAL TRUST IN GOD.

22:5

Abraham tells his servants to stay and wait for them with the donkey and he and the young man, will go up and worship, and then return to them. Notice he no longer speaks his son’s name, nor identifies him as his son; as in his mind he has already given him to God, as God commanded. He knew his son would soon be dead.

22:6

Abraham takes the wood and places it on the shoulders of his son; then he takes the fire in his hand, and the knife, and they both go together to the place of sacrifice. Can you see the figures of speech? Wood on his shoulder. Jesus carried the wood of the cross on His shoulder. The Father takes the fire; fire represents God’s wrath and judgement. And notice that they both go together. Isaac no doubt suspected that he was the sacrifice, yet he went willingly with his father, in obedience. The Son of God, said “Father, not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus went willingly and obediently. See Luke 22:42.

22:7-8

Finally, we are told that Isaac speaks; “My father.”, Abraham says, “here I am, my son”. Isaac says “Behold the fire and wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Notice the I Am? What Father is the great I AM? We see multitudes of references to the future, the Type, Metaphor, Simile, and Hypocatastasis all pointing to the future sacrifice of the Lamb of God as an offering for Sin. Not just a sin, but the SIN of all mankind. Jesus chose to willingly and obediently die for us. (8.) Abraham says “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” Notice Who it is? Himself, God Himself! Isaac does not question, but continues together with his father.

22:9

Now Isaac knows for certain that he is indeed the sacrifice, and being a young man, and certainly stronger than his father, he could have resisted, yet he willingly allowed his father to bind him and lay the wood on the altar he had built there. So we know it took some time to build the altar, and prepare everything for the sacrifice of Isaac.

22:10

Abraham takes the knife and lifts it up to slay his son! One who truly worships the Eternal Almighty Creator of the Universe never holds anything back from God, but obediently gives God what he asks, trusting that the Omnipotent Creator will provide for us. Abraham so trusted God that he reasoned in his heart that God would raise Isaac up from the dead! See Hebrews 11:17-19.

22:11-12

The Angel of the LORD, God Himself, immediately calls from out of heaven; “Abraham, Abraham!” Abraham, says “Here I am!” Then the Angel of the Lord says “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back, or spared, (the Hebrew word is epheisato) from giving Me your only son.” In Romans 8:32 we are told God did not spare, the Hebrew word is exactly the same ‘epheisato’, from giving us His only Son.

22:13

Abraham lifts up his eyes and sees a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. Abraham offers this ram as a burnt offering and sacrifice instead of his son. God had indeed provided the ‘lamb’ for the sacrifice. Substitutionary sacrifice has now begun.

22:14

Abraham calls the name of the place of sacrifice JEHOVAH JIREH, which means to this very day, In the Mount of the Lord it shall be seen. This is a prophetic perspective; Abraham somehow knew he was acting out a prophetic ritual. What shall be seen? Many commentaries believe it was on this very same Mount that Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed for the SINS of the world.

22:15

After the sacrifice is completed, then the Angel of the Lord speaks again to Abraham from heaven, telling him He swears by Himself. It is interesting that we swear by God when we give a solemn oath, yet God cannot swear by anyone except the most powerful being in the Universe, Himself.

22:16-17

‘Because you have done this thing’, been obedient to be willing to sacrifice his only beloved son, Isaac; God was restating His promises and blessing for Abraham and Isaac, now in front of Isaac, so he also would hear the blessings to be given for the multiplying of seed to be as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand upon the seashore; AND his Seed would possess the gate of his enemies. God adds this additional blessing and promise. God is foretelling Abraham and Isaac that their descendants would be victorious over the ‘gates’ or strongholds of their enemies. This would be fulfilled partially by Joshua in the Conquest of the promised land, and by JESUS in the conquering of the ‘gates, or strongholds’ of man’s enemy, Satan himself.

22:18

All nations and people of the earth will be blessed because you obeyed My voice. This is a forever promise for all those down through the ages, even to us and those who come after us. Jesus is the Promised One, The Messiah ~ our Savior!

22:19

Abraham returns to his young men, and they all go together back to Beersheba, and Abraham continues to live in Beersheba. Why isn’t Isaac mentioned? Perhaps as an analogy of Jesus, as the sacrificial Lamb, no longer being physically present on earth?

22:20-24

And it came to pass, meaning some time had gone by, and then we are given this information that Abraham’s brother Nahor’s family was being fruitful. As the names are given pay attention to the names of all the sons and grandsons, then suddenly we are given the name of a daughter of Bethuel, Milcah’s youngest of her eight sons, named Rebekah. Normally, the genealogy does not include the women, yet for a very good reason we are given this name, Rebekah.

We cannot even begin to comprehend all the implications of God’s incredible proving of Abraham’s faith. Our very existence as Believers in Jesus is due to Abraham’s obedience in Faith to God’s commands. Notice that the son (Isaac) also acted out of obedience to his father in being willing to be the sacrifice. Our Eternal Life is a blessing from God’s promises to Abraham, because of his obedience. Is it important to obey God in everything? No, it is Crucial to obey God in all things. Our obedience to God’s Will has eternal consequences. We must Never, Never forget that!