Is Your All On The Altar Of Sacrifice Laid?

Random thoughts from sharing at prayer meeting:

Genesis 22: Abraham's Dilemma

1. Conflict - Could (a good) God have commanded Abraham to kill his son?

"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 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."" - Genesis 22:1-2 (ESV)

2. Response - Trusting Obedience

"[The angel of the LORD] 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."" - Genesis 22:12 (ESV)

3. Resolution - Substitutionary Atonement

"Abraham said, "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together... 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."" - Genesis 22:8, 14 (ESV)

Hebrews 11: Abraham's Faith

1. What is faith?

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

2. How did Abraham walk by faith (and not by sight)?

"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, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back." - Hebrews 11:17-19 (ESV)

3. What did Abraham have faith in?

"If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." - Hebrews 11:15-16 (ESV)

By faith our fathers roamed the earth
With the power of His promise in their hearts
Of a holy city built by God's own hand
A place where peace and justice reign

Reflections

1. Trust and Obey, Faith and Works

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness" - and he was called a friend of God." - James 2:21-23 (ESV)

2. God will provide - Himself!

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:32 (ESV)

3. Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)