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Lifeline, Part 2

A Hill On Which To Die - Genesis 22 & Hebrews 11:17-19

March 14, 2021

As we continue our Lifeline series we take a look back to Genesis 22 at four phrases that describe the story: 1. Preparation (Gen. 22:1) To set the stage we see several things that occurred in chapter 21. - Abraham's first son, by the name of Ishmael, leaves the family. - There is an altercation between Abraham and one of the local leaders that gets resolved. - The birth of Abraham's second son, Isaac, takes place. After these things, God tested Abraham. There was a period of rest between chapters 21 and 22 while God was preparing Abraham to face the greatest test he would ever face in chapter 22. - Do you ever fear what God might allow to come into your life? - Do you ever wonder if you'd be able to handle some great trial or heartache like this? During the period of rest God prepared Abraham and made sure that he learned what he needed to know and that his walk, his faith, was stable. You need to know that Abraham is about to suffer this great trial because of what God tells him to do, but afterwards comes a great blessing that follows on the heels of the trial. There's a great reward that is coming after this hardship. 2. Examination (Gen. 22:1-2) "Tested" - to prove value, to prove quality, to prove the worth of something It is true that God tests you. It is also true that Satan tempts you. - God tests you to bring about your development and growth - Satan tempts you to bring about your destruction Abraham's test was to see who he loved more. Did he love God more than his own son whom he loved so deeply? 3. Submission (Gen. 22:3-10) How is Abraham able to respond obediently? - Abraham had come to know for certain that God is faithful and can be trusted. He knew that God is not fickle and untrustworthy. He knew for certain that he could trust God. • Hebrews 11:17-19, “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son, the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be traced through Isaac, He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead;” Application: What do you do when life seems illogical? Get theological. Start reasoning based upon God's character. Let your calculation, your logical thought, be upon who you know God to be. 4. Anticipation (Gen. 22:11-14) God renamed the place "The Lord will provide" using future tense. There's an anticipation, an expectation of something else to come. "In the Mount of the Lord, it shall be provided." It is a foreshadowing of the coming Christ. There are many similarities between Isaac and Jesus. - Isaac and Jesus were both born miraculously - Isaac and Jesus were both promised - Isaac and Jesus were both named by God before they were born - Verse 2 is the first use of the word love in the Bible which in context reflects the love of a father for his son while he gives his son in sacrifice. - The peak of Mount Moriah is called Golgotha - Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice and Jesus carried His own cross The difference for Jesus was that there was no ram caught in the thicket. There was no substitute for Jesus so that he, himself could live. When Abraham lifted that knife, all of Heaven must have marveled at how a man could love God so. But when Jesus died on Mount Moriah on that cross, all of Heaven was stunned at how God could love mankind so.