Meeting Place - The Provision of God
Hebrews 11:17–19 (ESV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Genesis 22:1–14 (ESV)
1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. 9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Most of the time we read this story in the context of Abraham:
We associate with him because we are the parents:
When we read this story this is what we see:
Sometimes we read our Bible with pre-conceptions of what is and what isn’t
You need to make sure your theology is not base on a misconception
Most historians agree that Isaac, at this time, was between the age of 25 and 35.
That means Abraham was somewhere around 125 years old
That changes everything!
That means, that Isaac had the OPTION to refuse to get on that altar!
Who is going to stop him?
THIS BRINGS ME TO A FEW QUESTIONS IN MY SPIRIT:
Why would Abraham go through with this?
He believed in:
The goodness of God
The faithfulness of God
The ability of God
When we won't go through with the plan God has given us, check these three beliefs!
Why would Isaac go through with this?
He loved the one He was sacrificing for
He believed Abraham had taught him about God
3 important aspects to raising a child OR raising a disciple OR being a disciple
******** Contextualize this ********
The same concepts that apply to raising disciples apply to raising children
They are the most important disciples you will ever make
NUMBER ONE:
Abraham had shown Isaac what it means to worship
Whether it is kids or disciples, we cannot expect them to replicate something we have never shown them
Clearly, Isaac understood the concept of what was happening
"We have everything, but where is the sacrifice?"
That is the importance of corporate worship
We lift our hands (thats what heaven will look like)
We lift our voices (thats what heaven will sound like)
We exalt the person of Jesus! (that is what heaven will be!)
NUMBER TWO:
Abraham had created an atmosphere for Isaac to experience God
Abraham was walking out faith WITH his child
Let them see God’s faithfulness without the pressure of faith.
One day (today) Isaac is going to feel the pressure and need to have already seen the faithfulness
Are you creating an atmosphere for your child to experience God?
Is your home a place where God can be known and be made known?
NUMBER THREE:
Abraham was staking his spiritual success on what his son would become, not what he would become
if your journey of faith is only about getting you to the top of some spiritual ladder, you may have it on the wrong wall
Faith journeys are not isolated events - they involve those around you
The events leading up to this experience that Abraham, and Isaac had with God in their meeting place were not accidental
God had been preparing them for this
But it wasn't just them that he had prepared
Before God had even called Abraham to take this trip
A little mountain goat was born
He looked just like the other little mountain goats
Something was different: He would be the provision of God, and save Isaacs life
Before you ever existed
A little boy was born
He looked like all the other little boys that were born in that town
Something was different: He would be the provision of God, and offer salvation for your life
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Matthew referred to Isaiah 7
Matthew 1:22–23 (ESV)
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Here's what I see as we look at the entirety of this story: Abraham, Issac, God, and a ram in the bushes
When you come to the meeting place with:
A willingness to sacrifice
A desire to submit
You will see the provision of God
