Sermon on Genesis 22 - God Will Provide

God Will Provide.

We find ourselves in the heart of Genesis, chapter 22, a story that resonates with the trials and triumphs of faith. The narrative of Abraham and Isaac is not merely an ancient tale, but a timeless lesson for each of us, a mirror reflecting our own journey with God.

1. God Tests the Faith of His Children (Genesis 22:1)

"Some time later God tested Abraham." This single verse sets the stage. God, in His infinite wisdom, tests us. Not to break us, but to refine us, to reveal the depth of our devotion. Like a goldsmith refining precious metal, He removes the impurities, strengthening our faith. These tests are not signs of His displeasure, but rather, His investment in our spiritual growth.

2. Obedience Must Be Immediate and Complete (Genesis 22:3)

"Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about." Abraham's response was immediate. There was no hesitation, no bargaining, no delay. True obedience is not partial, but complete. It requires us to lay aside our own plans and follow God's direction, even when it seems impossible.

3. The Journey of Faith Requires Sacrifice (Genesis 22:4)

"On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance." The journey to Mount Moriah was not a short one. It was a journey of three days, a journey of sacrifice. Faith often demands sacrifice – time, comfort, possessions, and even our dearest desires. The path of faith is not always easy, but the reward is immeasurable.

4. Believing in God’s Provision Even Without Seeing It (Genesis 22:5)

"He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” Abraham’s declaration, "We will come back," was a testament to his unwavering faith. He believed, even when faced with the prospect of sacrificing his son, that God would provide. He trusted in a provision he could not yet see.

5. True Worship Involves Total Surrender (Genesis 22:6)

"Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. And as the two of them went on together." Abraham carried the tools of sacrifice, symbolizing his willingness to surrender everything to God. True worship is not merely singing hymns or attending church services; it is a complete surrender of our will to God's will.

6. Sometimes God Asks Us for the Things We Love Most (Genesis 22:7)

"Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’” Isaac’s innocent question pierces the heart. God often tests us by asking for the very things we hold dearest. These tests reveal where our true allegiance lies.

7. God Always Has a Provision (Genesis 22:8)

"Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together." Abraham’s response is a powerful declaration of faith. He knew, beyond any doubt, that God would provide. Even in the face of impossible circumstances, he trusted in God’s provision.

8. The Altar of Testing Is Also the Place of Miracles (Genesis 22:10)

"Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son." In that moment of ultimate surrender, when Abraham's hand was raised, the miracle occurred. The altar of testing became the altar of divine intervention. It is in those moments of deepest despair, when we feel most alone, that God's presence is most profound.

9. God Honors Faith and Obedience (Genesis 22:12)

"‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’” God honored Abraham’s faith and obedience. He saw the depth of his devotion and intervened. God honors those who honor Him.

10. The Lamb of God is Our Perfect Provision (Genesis 22:14)

"So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’” This verse points us to the ultimate provision: the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Just as God provided a ram for Abraham, He provided His Son as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. On the mountain of Calvary, God provided the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is our provision, our salvation, our hope.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, let us learn from Abraham's example. Let us trust in God's provision, even when we cannot see it. Let us obey Him immediately and completely. Let us surrender our lives to Him, knowing that He will always provide. For on the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided. Amen.