Mountain Climbing

O.T. #42  "Mountain Climbing"
May 8, 2013
Genesis 22-Part 1
And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into
the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains
which I will tell thee of.

LET IT GLOW

Mountain climbing-you need special gear, strong lungs and legs along with determination to
climb a mountain. I have climbed a few mountains in my short lifetime. Some mountains were physical, and others were spiritual. It's a challenge to not look down or look back, but keep
looking up or ahead; to keep going when the going gets tough; to not give up and back down;
to hang on or hang in there with all you've got; to keep thinking that you can reach the top while
being patient with each step. Oh the view from the top of the mountain-indescribable,
breath-taking, peaceful. Sometimes it's lonely at the top and sometimes a few folks are with you.
God is always cheering you on, lending a hand, waiting for you at the top to share the view.
When the climb is finally over, you realize that all the struggles were worth it.
Climbed any mountains lately?
Abraham had a mountain to climb. It was in Moriah. It was one that challenged his faith. Check
it out with me. Get some boots first.

Verse 1 says that God did tempt Abraham...The word tempt used here is better expressed by
proved or tested. God does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13); but in certain instances
He does test, try, or prove us (James 1:2; 1Peter 1:6-7). (Falwell)

Abraham's test number three was from the Lord. Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us, but
God tests us to help bring out the best. It is the saint that walks closest to the Lord that God tests
the greatest for His glory. (Wiersbe)

What were the instructions God gave Abraham?

• Take now his only son Isaac, whom thou lovest;
• Go to the land of Moriah;
• Offer Isaac there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which God would tell him.

Hebrews 11:17-19 says, By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that
had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it is said, That in
Isaac shall thy seed be called; Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from
the dead; from when also he received him in a figure.

*Isaac was called Abraham's only begotten (monogenes), which refers to status.
*A man's offspring by a slave woman were not ordinarily given the rights that belong to the son
  born of his wife.
*Isaac was the only son of promise; he was the son who had brought Abraham joy for 15 years.
*Abraham demonstrated complete trust in the God whom he had known in life for 40 plus years.
*Love is where the heart is, and the faith God was looking for must be faith in the heart, as
  pure as refined gold. Abraham was to hold on to nothing, but release everything to God who
  had loved him so completely.
*The best evidence we have is that the place for the sacrifice of his son was very near Calvary,
  where Jesus would become God's Lamb offered and sacrificed for the sin of the world.
*Put your faith in the God who delivers those He chooses, calls, and sends into our world.
*At age 115, Abraham was still climbing mountains, physically and spiritually.

[Resources: Created to be God's Friend by Henry Blackaby; Liberty Bible Commentary, Jerry Falwell; Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

LET IT GROW

How did Abraham respond to God's instructions? Did he say no, You're asking too much of me?
Did he ask why? Did he ask for details first?  Did he ask how it would turn out at the end? Did
he ask for a sign to make sure he heard correctly? Did he doubt? Did he argue or plead? Did he bargain Did he ask his wife's opinion?

Henry Blackaby has this to say in his book, Created to be God's Friend:

1. Abraham obeyed God. He rose up early in the morning and saddled his donkey. His    obedience was immediate. There was no arguing or pleading, only faith. Obedience is a    choice based on real commands from God.
2. Abraham prepared two servants, donkeys, wood, fire, and his son, with no hesitation or    delay. Obedience is not easy, but it does require pure faith in God who calls.
3. They traveled three days when Abraham saw the place afar off. He told the servants to stay there, he and Isaac were going yonder to worship and and would come back. Absolute assurance was in Abraham's heart. An Abraham  kind of faith is immediate and thorough in its obedience.   
4. When Isaac asked where the lamb for the burnt offering was, his father reassuredly replied, "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." The two went on     together.  
5. Reaching the designated place, Abraham placed the wood in order, bound his son, laid him    on the altar, and took the knife to slay his son! Obviously, Isaac was trusting God, too. They  believed that God could raise Isaac from the dead. Figuratively, he did receive Isaac from the dead. In his heart, Abraham had already made the decision to make the sacrifice of his son. 
6. A Divine intervention came after a step of faith. God spoke and provided a ram, stopping it all.   He saw into Abraham's heart, who withheld not his only son from God. So Abraham offered the ram instead of Isaac.

The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17)

Are we living by faith? Walking by faith? Obeying by faith?
*The next post will explain the symbolism.

LET IT GO

Trust God. Obey God. Live by faith.