"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold. here I am. " Genesis 22: 1

The Historical truth of Abraham and Isaac climbing the Mountain of Moriah as found in Genesis chapter 22 is one of the most fascinating narratives to be found in the Scriptures. It humbles me to think how little we sacrifice compared and contrasted to how much Abraham was willing to give, his only son, Isaac. We have read the story many times and we learn from that great day on Mount Moriah that God accepted Abraham's faith and obedience just as though he had taken the life of Isaac there on the altar. God accepted Isaac as the sacrifice just as though he died and God did accept Abraham's act of faith just as though he actually offered his son, Isaac, to Him as a sacrifice.

The sermon this month is part one in a series of three messages on the general theme, "Abraham and Isaac Climbing the Mountain." Let’s study and dig deep, going to the very heart of Genesis 22 and see what God has in this great and tremendous portion of His Word.

Here then is the trial of Abraham's faith. Will his faith continue to be strong and centered on doing the will of God? Does he remain in communion with God, as it was when he left home, left his country and his family? When he left home and his family, it is shown that he loved God more than he loved his father and family. Now, we must see if he loves God better than his only son, Isaac.

The name, "Abraham" means, "Father of a multitude".

The name "Isaac" means "laughter".

Abraham died at the age of 175 and to this day Abraham is called the friend of God, the father of a multitude, and the father of the faithful.

Isaac died at the age of 180, (Genesis 36:27-29) and to this day, Isaac is looked upon as the promise seed of Abraham. Isaac is seen in the Scriptures as the only son of Abraham by Sarah.

Abraham: "...Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." James 2:23

"as for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a FATHER OF MANY NATIONS. Neither shall thy name anymore be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a FATHER OF MANY NATIONS have I made thee." Genesis 17:4-5

Let’s give special attention to a number of similarities between Abraham and God the Father and between Isaac and Jesus. While there are many types of Jesus in the Old Testament, it is the thinking of many Bible students that Isaac is the most perfect type of any person in the Old Testament. The ark was a type of Jesus and so was the basket that Pharaoh's daughter put Moses in. In the Ark, Noah's family was protected and in the basket, Moses was protected. So it is with those who are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Abraham was the father of Isaac. God the Father, was the father of Jesus.

2. Isaac was the only son of Abraham. Jesus was the only begotten Son of God.

3. The wood was on Isaac's back. The cross was on Jesus' back.

4. Abraham went up Mount Moriah with Isaac. God the Father, went up Mount Calvary with Jesus.

5. Isaac was the lamb on the altar ready to be sacrificed when the voice from heaven directed Abraham to the lamb in the thicket; Jesus was the Lamb of God on the cross.

6. Two servants of Abraham stayed behind and did not see Isaac on the Altar. There were two thieves who died with Jesus, but the three hours of darkness kept them from seeing Jesus die.

7. Lamb's blood on Mount Moriah. The blood of Jesus on Mount Calvary.

8. Knife in the hand of Abraham. Sword in the hand of the Roman soldier at the cross.

9. Isaac arose from the altar. Jesus arose from the grave.

10. The only difference: Isaac did not die a physical death. Jesus died a physical death but was resurrected from among the dead.

In this first sermon, I want us to see three great thoughts. First, let’s see God's Objective. Secondly, let’s see the obedience of Abraham. And thirdly, I want us to see the observation of Isaac.

Reading these three sermons in June, July, and August it is my prayer that we will see Abraham's most precious possession on the altar and we will begin to ask ourselves the question, Is my most precious possession on the altar? Is my "Isaac" on the Altar?

"And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Genesis 22:1-2

1. There is a great lesson to learn.

"and it came to pass after these things..." Genesis 22.1

Abraham had gone through a number of trials and difficulties, but now he is called on to meet his greatest problem of all his life. After all his hardships and conflicts in life, he is now called upon to give his son. It must have been a sad day when Abraham gave Hagar and Ishmael bread and water and asked them to leave. Abraham had left his family and had gone into a strange country. Now, he is instructed to send his son Ishmael into a strange land.

2. A lesson to be learned is that FORMER TRIALS will not supersede or secure us from further trials.

The wheels of providence keep turning and problems and trials keep coming. Moses and Israel in Egypt went through one trial after another. Job went through one trial after another and in the New Testament the same is true with Peter, Paul and John, etc.

3. With Abraham, God Establishes Sound and Strong Faith.

The author of this trial is God and God's objective is to set an example with His servant Abraham. The trial was not to draw Abraham into sin. but rather to discover the graces of God, how strong they were and that they may be found to the praise and honor of God.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than Gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7

"God had called Abraham to be the father of the faithful, and his life was to stand as an example of faith to succeeding generations. But his faith had not been perfect. He had shown distrust of God in concealing the fact that Sarah was his wife, and again in his marriage with Hagar. That he might reach the highest standard, God subjected him to another test, the closest which man was ever called to endure. In a vision of the night he was directed to repair to the land of Moriah, and there offer up his son as a burnt offering upon a mountain that should be shown him. At the time of receiving this command, Abraham had reached the age of a hundred and twenty years. He was regarded as an old man, even in his generation. In his earlier years he had been strong to endure hardship and to brave danger, but now the ardor of his youth had passed away. One in the vigor of manhood may with courage meet difficulties and afflictions that would cause his heart to fail later in life, when his feet are faltering toward the grave. But God had reserved His last, most trying test for Abraham until the burden of years was heavy upon him, and he longed for rest from anxiety and toil." Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 147, E. G. White

" ...Behold, here I am." Genesis 22.1

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, my father: and he said, Here am I, my son..." Genesis 22:7

"...Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here Am I." Genesis 22:11

Friends, Abraham's mind was set on doing the will of God. Past trials are past Victories and now he is faced with his greatest work. It is his greatest work and most severe trial and through all ages past and future it will be seen as the greatest example of faith set forth by any person with the exception of the Son of God.

1. Abraham rose early. "and Abraham rose early in the morning..." Genesis 22:3

2. Abraham prepares for the sacrifice.

3. Abraham said nothing to his wife, Sarah.

4. Abraham looked carefully to discover the location.

5. Abraham left his servants some distance away.

6. Abraham instructed Isaac to carry the wood on his back.

7. Without any unkind talk or disorder Abraham talks over the offering of the sacrifice with Isaac. There is a good discussion as to God being the center. "and Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a brunt offering; so they went both of them together." Genesis 22.8

"And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, my father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Genesis 22:7

"And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Genesis 22:8

The burnt offering was one of many kinds of sacrifices offered by Israel, and mentioned in the book of Genesis. This was the type of Sacrifice used by Noah and his family. Genesis 8:20 and Abraham, here in Genesis 22. This was a "whole burnt offering." The whole offering was consumed.

Now, we see Isaac's OBSERVATION and his OBEDIENCE.

1. Isaac TRUSTED his father, Abraham.

We see that Isaac is as willing as Abraham. We see no objection on the part of Isaac. There was no petition made to father, Abraham, for his life. He made no move to escape from his father. He did not resist; nor struggle with his aged father.

2. Isaac TRAVELED TOGETHER with his father.

"And Abram took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together." Genesis 22:6.

"...So they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of..." Genesis 22:8-9

3. Isaac was A TYPE OF CHRIST.

Isaac had been taught, no doubt, the meaning of the lamb on the altar. So had Cain and Abel. (Genesis 4) And so it was with the children of Noah. (Genesis 8)

There are types of our Lord throughout the Old Testament; but here we believe is the most perfect human type of our blessed Lord. The type passes from Isaac to the ram offered up "offered up in his stead" - a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ dying in the stead of sinners who are, as Isaac was, already in the place of death; "bound" unable to help themselves, with the knife of Divine justice suspended over them. Here the gospel was 'breached unto Abraham."

"And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." Galatians 3:8

Because Abraham reached to the best that he could attain of submission and devotion, God made his act the gateway of lessons and duties better still. If we interpret it so, we see it from the right angle and in the right light, and it becomes possible to stand with Abraham on Moriah and look straight across the ages to Mount Calvary, even to Him who offered Himself without spot unto God.