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Lessons from the Sacrifice of Isaac
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 10.30am service, 2 Jul 2000 )
Text: Gen 22:1-18
Human sacrifice was practised in the land of Canaan in ancient times. One Israelite Judge, Jephthah, before he went to war with Ammon made this awful vow, "And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering" (Judges 11:30,31). Alas! When Jephthah returned in triumph after the war he was greeted in his homecoming by his only child, his most beloved daughter. A vow made to God is irrevocable. He offered his only daughter as a burnt-offering for the Lord.
Now God came to test Abraham. He wanted him to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah . Abraham immediately obeyed. For early in the morning he saddled his ass and set out with two young servants and his son, bringing wood and fire to burn the sacrifice. Notice that verse 3 says that Abraham rose up early in the morning to go to Moriah. This teaches us that when God has a work for us to do, "the King's business required haste." To dilly dally shows lack of devotion which displeases God.
Another reason why Abraham got up early was to avoid Sarah's involvement. Should she know Isaac was to be the sacrificial lamb she might strongly object. In grave matters like this, "don't let your wife know" is sound advice.
When young I heard the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. I thought Isaac was a baby or a very small boy, so he could do nothing to escape or resist. Now, the text says in verse 6, "And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son . . . and they went both of them together." How much wood was needed to burn a full grown human body? Isaac was evidently a young man. Some scholars think he was 25 at this time. If so Abraham would be 125. Now if Isaac were a rebellious son, the whole business might end up the other way round. The beauty of the story is Isaac's perfect yielding to his father's wish. He submitted to being bound and laid upon the wood on the altar. So Abraham stretched forth his hand and took his knife to slay his son. Just as the knife was about to plunge into his son's throat he was stopped by the Angel of the Lord calling to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham . . . Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."
It must be concluded Abraham's devotion to his God was constant. This was sustained not only by his faith and love but also by his hope. For Heb 11:19 says, "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead . . . ." He passed the test with flying colours, which doubly confirms him to be the "Father of all them that believe" (Rom 4:11 ). Should God come to test you, not demanding the sacrifice of your only son (God is not the God of human sacrifice) but something else, will you give Him your all? Rather yourself to serve Him full-time, a living sacrifice? Your property, your accumulated assets, your money? Whatever?
This marvellous drama of events on Mt Moriah reflects the love of God in giving us His only begotten Son Jesus Christ that whosoever believeth in Him have everlasting life.
God loved the world
He gave us His Son
His only begotten Son to us He gave
That all believe in Him
Shall never die
Shall never die
Have eternal life
There is the Sequel of a great Reward to Abraham, in verses 15-18, "And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Your obedience to God in anything that He requires of you will similarly be blessed. Amen.
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