The same God who shows His power across the Scriptures is the same God who shows His power today.

The same God who shows His power across the Scriptures is the same God who shows His power today.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Genesis 22:1

Then God said, Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about. Genesis 22:2

Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled 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. Genesis 22:3

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Genesis 22:4

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. Genesis 22:5

Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Genesis 22:6

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? Genesis 22:7

Abraham answered, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. And the two of them went on together. Genesis 22:8

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Genesis 22:9

Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. Genesis 22:10

But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, Abraham! Abraham! Here I am, he replied. Genesis 22:11

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. Genesis 22:12

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Genesis 22:13

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. Genesis 22:14

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time Genesis 22:15

and said, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, Genesis 22:16

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, Genesis 22:17

and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me. Genesis 22:18

Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set off together for Beersheba. And Abraham stayed in Beersheba. Genesis 22:19

The Reality of Testing (1 12)

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6

These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:7

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, Hebrews 11:17

even though God had said to him, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Hebrews 11:18

Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:19

Sometimes we think that we are grading God and His faithfulness, ready to fail Him if He doesn t do our bidding. But really, God is grading us, ready to affirm and bless us when we demonstrate our dependence on and obedience to Him. God wants to know if His people truly trust Him, and He wants us to pass the tests.

The LORD had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father s household and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. Genesis 12:2

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Genesis 12:3

You will never know if God is trustworthy if you don t risk obeying him. John Ortberg

Abraham found himself torn between his faith in the divine promises and the command that promised to nullify them, between his affection for his only surviving son and heir and his love for God. Gordon Wenham

From Abraham s perspective, God was calling him to do something that he would have never imagined. God seemed to be totally out of character and completely destroying his program. Allen Ross

The Heart of Worship

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is His good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

If anyone is inclined to be a true worshiper of the Lord, it will involve the willingness to sacrifice whatever is dearest and most treasured. Allen Ross

The Benefits of Fear

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? James 2:20

Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? James 2:21

You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. James 2:22

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God s friend. James 2:23

You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:24

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, James 1:2

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:3

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

The Joy of Provision (13,14)

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, Hebrews 11:17

even though God had said to him, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Hebrews 11:18

Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. Hebrews 11:19

The Blessings of Obedience (12, 15 19)

Everyone who knows God will encounter situations in life in which obedience seems to make no sense and invites mockery and disdain from others.

What God wants of us is that we turn to him wholly and say in effect, You are God. You are Lord. You are sovereign. I am dependent upon you. I need you. I will trust you. I will obey you. D.A. Carson

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:33

Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

Obedience to God does not in any way guarantee pleasure and comfort. But we should also not be surprised when God blesses those who obey Him in very practical ways.

Abraham worshiped God with his actions because he trusted in God with his whole heart.