Abraham Trusted the Lord God
Genesis 22:1-19
Does God test us? Does God test our faith and devotion? If God does test us, how can we pass the test? Is it possible to be truly faithful to God? I have discovered that these are a few questions that come up more than occasionally. Christian people are concerned about God’s presence and maybe even his responsibility for the difficult times they face.
The Old Testament reading today comes from Genesis 22:1-19. It is the story of God, Abraham, Isaac and the strange events that happened on a wilderness mountain. Abraham is the spiritual father of both Jews and Christians. He felt God’s stirring and uprooted his entire tribe. They traveled to what we call Israel and began a new life directed by the Lord God. He and his wife, Sara, were old people who had no children. God promised Abraham that he and his wife would have a son. Sara thought it was absurd and laughed out loud. Through that promised son, Isaac, God was going to bless Abraham with many descendants. He was called the ancestor of many nations and God made this promise: “I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you (Genesis 17:6).” All this was to come through Isaac, Abraham’s son.
“Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, ’Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied (Genesis 22:1).” The same God who promised to give him many descendants then gives him this command: “…’Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you (Genesis 22:2).’” The very next day in the early morning Abraham loads a donkey with wood for the sacrifice and calls two servants and his son, Isaac. They slowly travel to the land of Moriah.
Can you imagine the emotions Abraham is experiencing? Is he confused? One moment God promises to bless him with many descendants and the next he commands him to sacrifice Isaac. The God of the universe makes a promise then gives a command which will erase the possibility of the promise being fulfilled. Such a confusing set of contradictions! Abraham must have been filled with fear and grief. He is ordered to sacrifice his only son, his pride and joy, the son he loves so much. He obediently travels to the mountain of sacrifice.
On the third day they get within sight of the mountain, and Abraham makes the servants wait while he and his son go on ahead. Abraham makes Isaac carry the wood, and he carries the knife and hot coals for the fire. Isaac asks his father: ”…’The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? (Genesis 22:7b).’” Abraham, full of the secret knowledge of God’s command, replies simply: “’ …God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’(Genesis 22:8b).’” They walk on together.
When they get to the sacred spot and make preparations for the sacrifice, Isaac helps build the very altar upon which he will be killed. Suddenly, Abraham ties up Isaac, places him on the altar and reaches for the knife. He holds the knife above Isaac and is ready to plunge it into him. The moment before he begins to plunge the knife into Isaac he hears the angel of the Lord call out, “’Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied (Genesis 22:11).” The angel speaks out from heaven, “’Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son (Genesis 22:12).’” Then the Lord spoke through the angel: “’I swear by myself,’ declares the Lord, ‘that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me (Genesis 22:18).’” Abraham sees a ram caught in a bush. He unties Isaac, sacrifices the ram in his place and the place is then named, “The Lord Provides.”
This story clearly reports that Abraham was tested by God and that testing is one of God’s characteristics. God is one who tests his people’s faith. There are two different kinds of tests of faith. The first is temptation. It is a situation where the purpose is often malevolent and malicious. A good example of this is Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. There Satan’s goal was to tempt Jesus into selling out for something less than God’s will for him. The purpose was clearly evil. There are, of course, times when we are tempted by the power of evil. Temptation which is of a malicious nature does not come from God but is an attempt to thwart God’s will for you.
The kind of testing that the story speaks to is testing which ultimately is benevolent. It is testing that attempts to prove faith rather than destroy it. Everyone who has been in school has been tested numerous times. American education is structured so that the teacher teaches and then tests students to see how much of the subject they have learned. With some exceptions, the goal of good teachers is for the students to pass the tests with high marks. Effective teaching is where the teachers teach and the students prove they have learned by passing tests. Testing is important because it proves that a student has a degree of competence. We do not want incompetent people in positions where they will do harm. No one wants to be treated by a physician who has not proven himself or herself through years of testing. No one wants to put their money in a bank where employees are not competent in math and in the use of high tech equipment. Testing of competence is important in all fields.
Therefore, it should not surprise you that the master teacher, the Lord God, tests his students. God does test us and the goal God has in mind is that all who are tested will pass the test of faith. God’s purposes are good because God does not seek to destroy us but prove us through testing. If you read the biographies of serious Christians, you will discover that everyone goes through periods of testing where their faith is proven. Anyone who takes their faith seriously knows that times of testing will come. Yet the testing God sends is meant to prove and strengthen us, not harm us.
As you read the Bible, you will discover that times of testing come when faith in the Lord God is threatened by religions that compromise faith and seek to sell people a religious bill of goods that is worthless. For the Hebrews times of testing came when they were encountered by pagan religions. Testing came when other religions tried to seduce the Hebrews and turn them away from the Lord God. Testing then came when the Hebrews bumped against those who worshipped the many idolatrous gods and goddesses of the land. The religion of Canaan was one that believed in many different gods and goddesses. They combined and reconciled differing views from many other pagan religions. This process was a clear and dangerous threat to the worship of the Lord God, and in those situations God tested his people to prove their faith.
As worship of the Lord God was threatened by the popular religions of Canaan in Ancient Times, so is the worship of the Lord God threatened today. At the opening ceremonies of the Olympics in France, we saw a clear example of the acceptance of paganism. They made a mockery of the Last Supper of Jesus. It was a deliberate insult to Christianity. One cannot practice any form of paganism and call oneself Christian. Neo-Paganism is clearly in opposition to Christian belief and practice. There are many threats to Christian belief and practice today. Perhaps the greatest threat is to see our Lord as powerless and that he makes no demands on us. Christians are being tested by the evil one. Satan wants us to see the Lord as irrelevant and a joke. Do not give into the neo-paganism of our culture. Follow the Lord Jesus with all your body, mind, soul and strength.
All testing is a test of our faith in God. Abraham had his faith tested and he was proven to have strong faith. What is faith? I have heard people tell others, “You gotta have faith.” We cannot see faith nor can we purchase it. Contrary to the opinion of some, you cannot inherit faith. There are several definitions of faith. I learned one taught by Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher and theologian. How about this one? “Faith is an objective uncertainty held with infinite passion.” That’s a bit of a mouthful. Abraham had faith in God. He not only trusted God but his obedience was immediate and complete. He trusted God. Even though God was commanding him to do something that was a contradiction of God’s promises to Abraham, he trusted the Lord God. Consequently, I think the best understanding of faith is simply trusting God.
The story of the testing of Abraham proves that faith is serious business. It means that there are times when we do not understand what God is up to but that we need to keep following him just the same. It means that there are times when we hear the call to do something, have tested it to see if indeed it is God calling and not something else, that we must go with it and trust in God.
The histories of the lives of serious Christians reveal that testing is a part of a Christian’s life. Such testing is meant to strengthen and prove our faith, not destroy it. God is like a good teacher and good teachers must test their students to evaluate their competence. You are called to have faith in God and he will give you the faith you need. However, he will also test your faith. As you are tested, God will also provide a way for you to pass the test and reveal that you trust him completely as Abraham trusted him.
A Sermon preached by Chaplain (COL) Michael W. Malone at Veterans Memorial Chapel.
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