SUBJ: The sacrifice of Isaac as a validation of the faith of Abraham as being truly of God and the actions taken seen as a type of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

AIM: That we might aspire to such faith as was seen in Abraham, taking God at His word in all things pertaining to life and Godliness.

INTR: The mention of “after these things” in the introduction to this narrative points to the past testing and the several significant events in the life Abraham – the call, the trials, the failures, the divine appearances, and promises fulfilled -- and yet the greatest trial of all follows.
1. There is much to see in the faith of Abraham but none so impressive and perhaps as trying as this as recorded here.
2. But while Abrahams’s faith and obedience is in view, the greater picture of God the Father and His dealing with God the Son comes into view with renewed emphasis on the sacrifice for our sins.
3. We will thus proceed to see the advanced development of the faith of Abraham brought to obedience and action.

THESIS: True faith will always find the Word of God as its resting place and especially as we see Christ our Lord as the Word made flesh and dwelling among us.

I. The tempting of Abraham (vv. 1-2)
1. That God did tempt Abraham seems to conflict with James saying that no man is tempted of God. While James is speaking of the evil and lewd leanings of men, Moses here writes of Abraham being brought to a full test to prove his faith – primarily to himself.
2. Emphasis here is divinely pointed out to Abraham’s immediate response – “behold me.”
3. The command, no doubt received painfully by Abraham is forthwith issued: “Thy son Isaac, thine only son whom thou lovest”
1) You are going to take my son and
2) You would have me to carry out the execution!
4. Into the land of vision or worship – Mount Moriah where the Temple was presumed to be built.

II. The obedience of Abraham (vv. 3-6)
1. The response of Abraham is without hesitation:
1) It was immediate – the very next morning
2) It was with great attention to detail – he knew what was required for a sacrifice
3) It was precise and well-planned as to what he would do.
2. For three days Isaac was dead in the mind of Abraham
1) We would not miss the possible reference to three days in the tomb
2) Afar off – Even as the place and the events of the sacrifice of Christ was out of sight to all but the Father and the Son. The young men with him went no farther.
3. The thought of worship was already in place and not a thought of servile duty (He had learned that he did not need to understand how God was going to accomplish – just obey).
4. The wood on Isaac and the knife and the fire in the hands of Abraham and we see the picture of the Christ approaching the Father whose justice must be satisfied.

III. The Sacrifice (vv. 7-10)
1. In v. 7, we come to the question of Isaac – where is the sacrifice? And
2. In v. 8, the answer of Abraham the Lord will provide Himself, a Lamb!
3. Abraham built the altar, placed the wood, and then bound the willing sacrifice to the altar all by faith and believing that God was able to raise him up.
4. And then came the most extreme act of faith and obedience
1) Abraham would have expected to see the life of his own son poured out at his own hand
2) And then to light the fire that would have consumed the dead body of the one he loved.
5. When the time came for the execution of the Lamb of God, his hand was not stayed.

IV. The Provision of the Lord (vv. 11-14)
1. At the precise instant needed, the angel of the Lord called out twice to Abraham and stopped him.
2. Abraham’s action had confirmed the genuineness of his faith:
1) There was no question here as to what the Lord knew but would have it acted out for Abraham and for his children.
2) As we read in the book of James: Abraham was justified by his works with direct reference to this act.

V. The Blessing of Abraham tied to his Faith (vv. 15-19)
1. The need of a mediator has shown forth in all these things and Abraham had confirmed that.
2. The terms of the blessing were unchanged in that God would do it.
3. In v. 18 the testimony as to how the blessing would be brought to fulfillment had been declared and again pointed not to Abraham’s faith and obedience, but to that which he declared in obeying the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.