Genesis 22:1-14

Today we come to the second great peak of faith in the journey of Abraham.  The first was in Gen. 15 when Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (v6).  We have seen that Abraham’s journey since that time has had its ups and downs.  But any question about the reality of Abraham’s faith is put to rest in this story.

The New Testament recognizes these two events in Abraham’s life.  Paul in Rom. 4 keys on Gen. 15:6, which he quotes several times, as evidence that faith alone is the basis for justification.  God declares righteous the one who believes; it is not based on works (Rom. 4:5).  

James, on the other hand, keys on the story in Gen. 22 as proof that true faith will always be followed by works (James 2:21-24).  In that sense, since faith without works is not faith at all, he could say that a man is justified by works.  Faith is the only cause; works is the inevitable result.  Faith must be proven …

o Is it genuine (1 Peter 1:7)?

o Is it enduring (Heb. 10:35-39)?

o Is it exclusive (Matt. 22:37; 10:37)?

o Is it effective (Jas. 2:22, perfected)?

Thus the story begins by this statement: God tested Abraham.  God knew Abraham’s faith in Gen. 15:6.  Yet his faith must be perfected, made complete, or confirmed by being joined with obedience.  God assays the believer, testing him to see the reality of faith (Jas. 1:13).  Manna was such a test to Israel (Ex. 16:4).  A false prophet was a test from God to see if Israel loved Him with all their hearts (Deut. 13:3).  So God tests Abraham.

God’s test is precisely aimed at the very crux of faith.  Abraham had come to believe that God would give him a son (Gen. 15:1-6) which God did.  Now God asks Abraham to give the promised son back to him, to offer him as a sacrifice.  Would Abraham trust God?  Would he count God’s word to be true now, after Isaac’s birth?  

This event would become well known in Israel (Gen. 22:14) as critical to God’s unfolding plan of salvation.  Do we understand that God will also test our faith?  Those tests are an opportunity to display the glory of God before others.  As we are saved by grace through faith, so we are kept by grace through faith.  Abraham trusted God, and God indeed provided the Lamb!