Son of Promises: Genesis 22

Tension: 

I sat on the edge of a mountain in Taiwan watching the sunset over the ocean. It was a truly majestic scene. It is something truly holy to behold the beauty of God’s creation. I couldn’t help but notice a couple standing nearby. They were both staring at their phones. It amazed me that they could be in the presence of such a beautiful moment and miss it for the phone screen. They missed the sunset for something lesser. If we are not careful, we can do this with chapters like Genesis 22. 

I have talked to many people who have a problem with the tension in this chapter. Why would God test Abraham in such a way? I get this question. It seems like a horrific test. However, I fear that people focused on this question are missing something behind the words of the story; Something more beautiful. 

Isaac is the son of the promise. God’s covenant hangs in the balance. Sometimes events happen that feel like God’s love and goodness also hang in the balance. However, what shines through the tension is God’s love for His children. Abraham doesn’t sacrifice Isaac. God never intended for him to. Why? God would send a ram. This ram was a shadow that would be a shadow of a promise that would linger in the minds of His people. “I will provide the sacrifice.” The Lord provides His Lamb to redeem His fallen children and bring them home.

Text: 

Most people don’t know this, but the first time the word “love” is used in the Bible is in verse 2 of this chapter. The first time we see the word ‘love’ is in the context of a father who loves a son. Don’t miss this. We cannot read this chapter without seeing shadows of Jesus all over. Whispers of Jesus are woven so wonderfully through the text that it is truly breathtaking. 

Abraham loved His son. So it comes as a surprise to the reader that God asked Abraham to sacrifice his ‘only son, the son he loved.’ The sometimes faithful, sometimes faithless Abraham is confident throughout this whole chapter. And that too is surprising. We are used to Abraham faltering. Here, he is sure that God will preserve his son. 

As Isaac and Abraham walk up the dusty mountain trail, Abraham repeats, “God will provide.” Isaac, carrying the wood on his back, asked about the sacrifice. This gives rise to the tension. What will happen? How will God provide? 

Things get more tense when Abraham straps his only son to the altar. Interestingly, Isaac doesn’t fight or question his father. He believes God will provide. Abraham raises the knife. A voice crackles through the air. God stops Abraham and provides the sacrifice as a ram. He alone will provide the sacrifice for worship. When have you had to trust God’s provision without seeing it yet?

That mountain served as a reminder to Moses’ audience. God provides for His children. He provides the means of relationship. They were called to be obedient and to wait faithfully for God’s provision. That’s the question that flows from the text. Will they be faithful and wait on God? Will we? 

Takeaway: 

The same promise is true for you and me. God provides the means for redemption for His children, and He has. Through Christ’s blood, we are brought into the family of God. We see this throughout this chapter. Like Isaac, Jesus would carry wood on His back up a mountain. He, too, would be on the altar of the cross. But Jesus was the ram caught in the thicket. Jesus was God’s provision. Jesus would take our place on the cross. We deserved the wrath of God. God instead supplied His own Son to take our place. Just as the ram took Isaac’s place, so Jesus steps into ours. Let us marvel at this truth. 

Don’t miss the beauty of Jesus in this chapter. Don’t be the couple more interested in their phone than in the beauty of the Son. Beloved, let us walk through our lives and say, “God has provided and He will continue to provide.” 

We are called to be faithful. We are called to be obedient. So will we obediently walk through this life with the confidence that God has provided the means to a relationship and peace with Him? Or will we question what God has called us to?  

Abraham was by no means perfect. So far, we have seen him fail many times. We can relate to Abraham. We, too, have failed God many times. And many times, we have not heeded God’s word or trusted in His sovereignty. And like Abraham, we are not done, nor is God done with us. See this chapter as an invitation to grow in faithfulness through obedience. When you fail, reset and grow from the experience. Abraham did, we can too. Let our obedience reflect our hope that God provides redemption for His children. Look back, where have you seen God provide in the past? How will that give you hope for the future?