Quotation: Genesis, 22:1-5
As brothers prayed in a worship this morning, each of us has his own trials. If we pray to Jesus in the midst of our trials, He reaches out His hands to us, and raises us up. The quoted paragraph describes about the greatest tribulation men ever encountered. The tribulation, you must know it, is that God ordered Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. Abraham is called "God's friend" three times in the Holy Bible. Among men, it is only Abraham who is called God's friend. 2 Chronicles, 20:7
and in Isaiah, Isaiah, 41:8
also in James in the New Testament, James, 2:23
It is a splendid thing. However, there is a decent reason, Abraham experienced a completely different trials than we have. Moreover, he took them seriously, and overcame them. Back to Chaper 22 of Genesis, we find astonishing expression in Verse 1, "Some time later". (Holy Bible translated into Japanese expresses it in rather different way, "After these events".) These events, described in prior chapters, i.e., Abraham made several major mistakes relying on his own fleshly decisions, were provided by the God to prepare for the greatest trial. Abraham keenly regretted what he has done, and kept them firmly in mind. One of the mistakes is, as you know, described in Chapter 12. Abraham devised a fleshly plot, and as a result, he learned his lesson. Genesis, 12:10-13
Actually, it is disgraceful for those who believe in the LORD God to think of these fleshly measures. He tried to protect himself by a shallow idea. Genesis, 12:14-19
Abraham must have been ashamed of it. He must have regretted to make the LORD God distressed. However, he made the same mistake again in Gerar. Genesis, 20:1-2
Later, the God came to Abimelech in a dream and said to him that Sarah is Abraham's wife, not his sister. Next day, Abimelech called Abraham in and asked, "What was your reason for doing this? Why did you tell a lie?" Abraham must have regretted again after Abimelech's blame who was an unbeliever. He must have repented that he had made the LORD sad, and humiliated Him, by worrying by himself and being afraid of others. For Abraham, the land of Canaan, where he left for Egypt, and Gerar were promised lands by the God. Thus, if there is a famine in the land, he could have said, "It's you, God, who brought me down here, so please take responsibility for this lack of food." It's easy to criticize what others have done... Abraham is called "God's friend" after overcoming the greatest trial, but now we know he was originally just an ordinary person. I think that the God made Abraham to make such mistakes for showing us he was an ordinary man who was afraid of others, tried to protect himself by his own shallow idea. And as you know, Abraham made another type of mistake, regarding his child. In Chapter 15 of Genesis, the LORD our God promised him about his child. Genesis, 15:1-5
The God directly told to Abraham that his offspring will be as much as the stars in the sky. At that time, he didn't have any children, but He promised and assured he and Sarah will have a child. In this modern era, it is so easy to make a contract. We can print a contract document using computers in a moment, or, writing it down onto a paper doesn't take much time. And, if we sign and appose a person seal to a document, a contract is completed. But, 3800 years ago, there was no paper, no ink. Then, how did they make a contract? The Holy Bible tells people in that era performed a ceremony. Genesis, 15:9-10
As an action to close a contract, they brought animals and birds, and cut them into two pieces. Of course, a blood shed. Then, arrange them opposite each other with a narrow gap. The contract is completed if both of contractants pass between the pieces. I suppose an action implies a will that I will keep this contract for my life, and if I break it, I will accept to be cut into pieces like the animals, and vice versa. Genesis, 15:17-18
This means the God signed the contract. In the days of the Old Testament, the God often revealed Himself in the form of flames of fire. When Moses was called by Him, he saw flames of fire within a bush. Though a bush was on fire it did not burn up. It is written the God led Islaelite as the pillar of fire during the night when they moved out of slavery in Egypt, walked across the Red Sea toward the land of Canaan: their promised land. In the Holy Bible, the God revealed Himself in the form of flames. Thus, we know the God ratified the contract by passing between the pieces. The God as well as closing a contract, He wanted to tell Abraham and Sarah that He will give them a child. Abraham must have been waiting for it in high spirits, because he was directly told and promised by the God. But, they weren't given any child, in one year, nor in two years, three years, five years, even not in ten years. Gradually, it caused mistrust toward the God, like us. At last, fifteen years have passed. They couldn't wait any longer, especially the wife Sarah. So, she said to her husband. Genesis, 16:1-4
Then, Genesis, 16:15
It was Sarah who couldn't believe His words till they are completed. With this whisper, Satan entered into her heart. Just as Eve put Satan into Adam's heart with a whisper of a serpent. Again, a woman lost earlier. Abraham regretted later. Fifteen years after Ishmael is given, an orthodox child, Isaac is given. Genesis, 21:1-3
It was through Isaac, the God said, descendants of Abraham will be like the sand of the sea. So, he seriously worried about Ishmael, out of a maidservant. Genesis, 21:11
In spite of himself, he followed Sarah's recommendation with unbelief, and couldn't keep his faith to the LORD. As a result, Ishmael was born, and it became a cause of deep trouble in him. The LORD made Abraham leave Ishmael away from his home before the greatest trial. Genesis, 21:10
Sarah asked Abraham to drive away the maidservant and her son. Genesis, 21:10
Genesis, 21:14
Ishmael was kicked out. Thus, at his great trial, in Chapter 22, there wasn't Ishmael by him, only Isaac was. And the God made Sarah prepare for the trial, by an experience like this, Genesis, 21:33
Here, the word, "the Eternal God" first appears in the whole Bible. Until now, the God revealed Himself to Abraham on another aspect of the God, "the Almighty God". Genesis, 17:1
When Abraham was 99 years old, the God directly appeared to him, and said, "I am God Almighty.", and didn't yet revealed Himself as the Eternal God. Just before the greatest trial, Abraham had a revelation through his experiences that the God is eternal. It shows the God made Abraham prepare for the trial in many ways. And the God does it for each one of us too. As for us, if we look back our life, we can remember we had trials, of course we have experienced a lot of trials, after some experiences prepared by the God, and through them, we found we made mistakes, and repented, noticed that if we rely on our own thought and power, we will get only pains. Thinking about how the Abrahams lived before the trial, we can't find they had any problems. Genesis, 21:22
Abimelech and the commander Phicol were gentiles. People in that area knew if Abimelech and Abraham are on bad terms, their lives were threatened. But the opponents came to Abraham, and addressed, "Please get along well with us. Close a contract for not getting into difficulty with us." Genesis, 21:23-24
(Side A -> Side B) They no more had any fear to be attacked. For people at that time, to keep sufficient water reservation was the biggest concern, so to maintain a well was a base of their lives. There, Abraham was given a well. Genesis, 21:30
and in Verse 34, we find they spent a peaceful and blessed life. Genesis, 21:34
Isaac grew day by day and, they always had something to laugh at. We easily imagine they had a blessed and happy home. They didn't have any problem, no friction against any other tribes, and they had assured life, a well providing sufficient water, a lot of food, sheep and cows. Others may have thought how happy they are, blessed in everything. Then, all of a sudden, the greatest tribulation came down. We experience this too. If we look back, we were given trials on a day, or, on a moment, all of a sudden. Before that, we had no troubles, and spent a pleasant, happy life. But the very next moment, we were put into a trial we have never imagined. It not only happened in the past, but also may possibly happen in the future. The God may be planning to make it happen to you. You may say, "Don't make me nervous.", but the LORD always does it in this way.like this. Some time ago, I joined a Gathering held at Toronto in Canada. One day participants visited Niagara for sightseeing. As you know, the Niagara Falls is one of the largest waterfalls on the earth. Approaching it, we will be astonished for its enormous scale. The basin of a waterfall is very deep, and huge amount of water falls raising a spray of water. On the other side of the waterfall, there is a restaurant, where we can look over it. While I was looking at the scenery, I found that the surface of the river is calm till just before a water fall down from the top of the waterfall. It's like a mirror, or stuff like that. It is absolutely calm. But only a moment later, the same water falls into the basin with a rasping sound and a spray of water. As for the Abrahams, they spent happy and peaceful days among Philistines without any problems. But in next moment, the LORD our God gave him the greatest tribulation ever men experienced. Genesis, 22:1
The word, "test" is used. It is written Satan also tests men. After the LORD Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, He was tempted by the devil in the desert. The Satan tests us, too. The God gives us trials to derive good things within us. The Satans test us to derive bad things within us. Here, the God tested Abraham to derive good things within him. Genesis, 22:2
He must have been astounded by this order. He mustn't have failed to hear His words, because he heard them directly many times. It was an unbelievable order, but it was from the God directly told to him. And first words followed by this sentence are terrific. "Early the next morning", they imply tremendous meaning. Genesis, 22:3
It was a night before when the God told to Abraham to offer Isaac. It is great that he executed His order in early next morning. He didn't rebut at all. On the other hand, he executed it in the very first of all. It is really amazing. In my case, I will dispute, "Even though the God says so, I can't do such a dreadful thing in brief. Wait for a while to prepare. I will do it next week, may be next month, or next year..." The God didn't indicated when shall he offer his only son, Isaac. Genesis, 22:2
Because He didn't precisely order when he shall do it, we may extend due. We may claim the God, as if we bit on Him, "Terrible, I can't do that. Generally, it is you who gave me Isaac. You promised that through Isaac our descendants will be like the sand of the sea, the stars in the sky. So, what do you mean, telling me to offer my only bond, Isaac?" Because, in our mind, we are unwilling to do it. But Abraham didn't claim about it at all. It is so great that he started executing what the God ordered first of all. His faith has been matured through mistakes, and the God's revelations. Genesis, 22:4-5
This is the ultimate of a faith, for he said, "I and my child go over there and worship, then come back" A man who was ordered by the God to kill his son and offer as a burnt offering, said he will come back to servants with his child after worship. This is a tremendous faith. He had a belief that even so the God ordered to offer Isaac, He will take care of it not knowing how. In Hebrews, the author describes what was in Abraham's mind then. Hebrews, 11:17-19
It is written, Abraham believed the God can raise the dead, that is, in the worst case, he has to kill Isaac, but He will raise Isaac from the dead, and bring him back again. So, he said to his servants, he will worship and come back with his child. He was confident about it through his experiences. When Isaac was given, Abraham was 100 years old, and Sara was 99. It means their bodies were almost dead, have no ability to have a child. Of course they knew it well. But through these dead bodies, a life was given. So, Abraham was confident, even if Isaac dies, he will given a new life, or resurrected. And this foretells that Jesus will die on the cross and be raised from the dead. I think to live in a faith is so wonderful. Genesis, 22:6
It is a happiness for believers, a father and his son went together. I think it is a wonderful scene. Genesis, 22:7-9
We can see that until Verse 9 Abraham didn't tell Isaac what the God ordered, that is, he has to kill his own son on the altar and offer as a sacrifice. Because it is written on Verse 7, Isaac asked "The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" It is obvious Isaac didn't know about it because he himself asked it. But finally, on Verse 9, Abraham must have confided His order to Isaac, for it is written he built an altar and arranged the wood on it, and bound his son, laid him on the altar. The Holy Bible doesn't tell explicitly how years old Isaac was, but we know he was big enough to carry the bunch of wood on his back and climb the mountain. Perhaps, he was a boy, not yet a young man, but he mustn't have been a child. I suppose Isaac had more physical strength than Abraham, he was over 110 years old then. Thus, physically speaking, Isaac could defeat Abraham. Isaac could resist his father, if he isn't convinced why his father kill him by knife and offer as a burnt offering. Isaac was strong enough to do it. But, the Holy Bible tells Isaac didn't resist at all. Isaac submissively obeyed His order, for it is written, old and weak Abraham bound his son and laid him on the altar. It foretells the image of Jesus. His behavior described on Verse 6 reminds us of Jesus. He carried the bunch of wood on which he will be burnt, climbed the mountain in silence. It symbolizes the image of Jesus, He carried a cross on which He will be crucified on Via de la Rosa toward Golgotha. Even so, Abraham built an altar on an appointed area, and arranged the wood on it precisely with measures to support the weight of his son. Because he had to laid his son on it. To build an altar, Abraham must have collected stones. During collecting, and building them up, he must have had painful and teary feeling, in spite of his strong faith. As a parent of kids, I feel a tightening in my chest when I think how Abraham felt while he collected stones, and built them into an altar. All of us have to be present at the death of our family, losing one by one. But, it is totally different losing him by a disease or a wound, and losing him by killing by our own hands. I think Abraham was suffered a terrible heartache when he thought that for Isaac, the last scene he saw in this world is that his father sits astride of him, and swings the knife down fast to him. I suppose they wept helplessly holding each other, when Abraham told Isaac the order from God. Then Abraham bound Isaac's hands and laid him on the altar. Abraham exposed Isaac's neck, sit astride on him, and hold a knife, then flung it up. Genesis, 22:10-11
I imagine Abraham answered to the God moving down his right hand, holding a knife, slowly. Genesis, 22:12-13
A life of a ram was taken and instead of it, a life of a man was saved. Because a life of Jesus was taken on the cross, lives of others were saved. To save lives of others, a life of another man was indispensable. Genesis, 22:4
Here, it is written it took three days for them to get to Moriah where Isaac was to be sacrificed. In the Holy Bible, the number "3" always means the resurrection. Three days stated here may symbolize the Resurrection of Jesus. As a fact, I suppose, Isaac was dead within Abraham for these three days. Then, three days later, Isaac was back in live figure. It may symbolize that Jesus resurrected three days after He was buried in the tomb of Joseph. Abraham overcame the greatest tribulation men ever encountered with amazing faith. Genesis, 22:14
Genesis, 22:16
Until then, the LORD our God told Abraham a lot of things, and always He "said". But, here the LORD said, "I swear". After the LORD saw Abraham overcame the greatest tribulation, and found how he feared Him, He "swore", not "said". Here you can see the reason why the God calls him "friend of the God". The LORD our God tells us through these consecutive quit dramatic events in Genesis that Abraham once was an ordinary man who was coward, unfaithful, and made mistakes under his own knowledge and judge. He also tells us that through many heavy and painful trials his faith was gradually shaped, and the same Abraham could finally overcome the greatest tribulation, and be blessed, called a friend of the God. So, as for us, we are fresh and uncertain in faith, and sometimes unfaithful, reluctant to trust the LORD, fear of men, and move under our own shallow idea, but, in the future, we will be changed like Abraham to a man who is acceptable to the God, if we are shaped through many trials. |