258. ABRAHAM AND ISAAC: THE PROMISED SEED

"Abraham rejoiced to see my day"

Although Ishmael was born well before the destruction of Sodom, his birth has been grouped in this lesson to give a better sequence of thought. We shall see how Abraham's mind was continually exercised upon God's revelations to him, even though those revelations were separated by many years. By conscious mental effort he was able to "see" the fulfillment of the promises, through Isaac his son. Thus prepared, he was able to obey God even to the point of offering up his only beloved son. Abraham's faith in this matter is set forth as the pattern for all true believers to follow. The aim of the lesson is to see how God tested Abraham's faith.

Genesis 16, 21 & 22 THE PROMISE OF THE SEED (Gen. 15-17).

Abraham's faith was developed over many years, but with God ap pearing to him from time to time. God had promised that He would make of him "a great nation" (12:3). During the early stages of his so journ in the land, Abram was concerned as to how his seed would be developed. Because he was childless, he even contemplated making his heir one of his servant Eliezer's children (15:2-3). But God spoke to him and told him that his seed would proceed from his own body (v. 4), and would become as numerous as the stars (v.5).

Despite being childless since marriage, and also the fact that both he and Sarah were now beyond normal childbearing years, Abraham believ ed God implicitly. Abraham believed in the "impossible" € that which flesh could not do and which God alone could do. This demonstrated his great faith in God and for this unquestioning attitude; he was accounted righteous by God (v.6; Heb. 11:1, 6). So Abraham was justified by faith, without works being taken into account. In this God has set forth the ex ample which shows how man can be just before him € by faith in God apart from works (Rom. 4:1-3, 13, 16, 18-25).

In order to assure Abram that he would fulfil this promise, God made a covenant with him by sacrifice (vv.9-10). These sacrifices (birds and animals) were typical of the sacrifice of Christ for by his death the cove nant was truly ratified. Thus we are taught that Jesus Christ "confirmed the promises made unto the fathers" (Rom. 15:8).

God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Abram and then he was shown what would befall his seed after he died. Verses 13-16 prophesy the captivity in Egypt of Abram's immediate descendants. In verse 17 we read of a "smoking furnace" passing between the pieces of the sacrifices. The "smoking furnace" represented God and by passing between the divided sacrifice God made the covenant with Abram (Jer. 34:18). Verses 18-21 define the borders of the land promised.

Genesis 16 records the birth of Ishmael to Hagar, Sarah's maid. This was an attempt by Sarah to anticipate the promise of the seed (Gal. 3:29). Abram set his heart on Ishmael as the seed of promise, but he was "born after the flesh" (Gal. 4:29). The seed of promise was to be born by the power of God; and was to be the seed, not only of Abram, but also of Sarah, who was at that time barren.

Thirteen years later (chapter 17) God appeared to Abram and reaffirm ed the covenant that Abram's seed would be multitudinous. To emphasize this, Abram's name ("Lofty Father") was changed to Abraham ("Father of a great multitude"), and there followed the covenant of cir cumcision which was an outward token of Abraham's inward faith (Rom. 4:11). Circumcision of itself means nothing. It was used by God to indicate that Abraham was a man who had cut off his natural desires and put all trust in God, even in the matter of childbirth (cp. Phil. 3:3). Paul says that the man who obeys God and not the will of the flesh is "circum cised in heart" (cp. Rom. 2:28-29).

The lesson of trust in God and repudiation of the flesh having been im pressed upon Abraham, the way was prepared for the birth of the pro mised seed. God had made known to Abraham that Sarah was to bear a son, Isaac (17:15-22). Abraham, despite the fact that all outward ap pearances were against it, came to the point of accepting God's promise. He was rewarded in the birth of Isaac (Rom. 4:17-22). Isaac means "hap piness", or "joy" and as the Son of Promise, his birth brought happiness and joy to his parents (21:6). They saw in him the fulfilment of all their hopes. Through him would come: €

1. The conqueror of sin: the seed promised in Eden who would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15); and
2. "The heir of the world" (Rom. 4:13), in whom, God said, "all na tions shall be blessed" (Gen. 12:3).

Realising this, Abraham and Sarah rejoiced in Isaac (John 8:56). They saw in him the assurance of all their hopes.

IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED (Gen. 21).

Abraham's household were "sharers in the covenant" with him and would have rejoiced with him in the birth of Isaac. But there were two who did not € Hagar and Ishmael (v.9).

When Sarah made a feast to celebrate the weaning of Isaac, she found Ishmael mocking him. Sarah asked Abraham to send Ishmael away and God confirmed that this was necessary, "for," He said, "in Isaac shall thy seed be called" (v.12).

In Gal. 4:24-31, Paul sees this incident as an illustration of how the true seed of Abraham, those baptised into Christ (3:29), would inherit the promises, whilst the natural seed, Israel after the flesh, would be cast out.

THE CHALLENGE (Gen. 22:1-2).

It must be remembered that Isaac was Abraham's beloved son and the heir of the promises. His life was bound up in the life of his son. It is not difficult, therefore, to understand the great test that was now placed upon Abraham. How long after is not stated, and may only be inferred, but it was "after these things" € some years after Abraham's 100th birthday (21:5, 34), with Isaac a "lad" (22:5, 12) € "that God proved Abraham" (v.1 R.V.). Faith had been Abraham's outstanding characteristic throughout his pilgrimage. That faith was now to be tried to the utmost as God sought Abraham's co-operation in a mission which would foreshadow the death and resurrection of His own son (cp. 15:6 with James 2:23).

Like the Lord Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16), Isaac was a "son of promise" (Gen. 21:12; Heb. 11:17-18). As Jesus is described as God's "only begot ten son" and His "beloved son" (Jn. 1:18; Mat. 3:17), so Isaac is describ ed as "thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest." Abraham was told to take him "into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (v. 2). "The land of Moriah" was significant in Israel's later history as the place where David sacrificed to stop the plague (2 Sam. 24:18-25), and where Solomon built the temple of Yahweh (1 Chron. 22:1; 2 Chron. 3:1). Jesus was sacrificed in a place called Golgotha (meaning the 'place of a skull' Mat. 27:33) outside the walls of Jerusalem near the site of the Temple. So the place where Isaac was to be sacrificed was very significant.

A JOURNEY OF FAITH (Gen. 22:3-10).

God was not asking Abraham to do something barbaric, but to co operate with Him in showing how sin would be overcome in His own dear Son. Abraham was called upon to do what God Himself would do in the future in offering His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. Seeing the trial from Abraham's viewpoint, one can under stand the pain and anguish endured by the Father when His Son was put to death.

The events of verses 2-14 illustrate the great love which existed between God and His Son which enabled the sacrifice for sin to be willingly offered.

Abraham showed no hesitation in service to God, but "rose early" (v.3) and, taking all that was required, made the journey to Mt. Moriah. Some distance from the Mount, Abraham left the servants with the asses and he and Isaac continued on foot (v.5). Abraham's faith in the resurrection from the dead is clearly seen in his statement to his servants, "I and the lad will... come again to you." Abraham knew that Isaac must live and knew that God would preserve his son in any event.

The action of laying the wood on Isaac's shoulders (v.6) was remarkably paralleled, for Jesus "bearing his cross went forth" (Jn. 19:17). So also is the statement "they went both of them together" (v.6), for Jesus worked in harmony with his Father to effect man's salvation (Jn. 12:27-28; Matt. 26:36-39; Heb. 10:5-7).

Isaac now speaks. He has noticed one important omission from the things they have taken. "My father... where is the lamb?" Abraham replies in significant terms: "God will provide Himself a lamb" (v.8), so pointing forward to Jesus (Jn. 1:29, 36). Was Isaac aware of the meaning of these words so far as he was concerned? Did he realize that he was to be the lamb? If he did come to this realization there was still no hesitation € "so they went both of them together" (v.8).

Provision of the sacrifice seems to have required the co-operation of father and son for Abraham was old and may not have been able to compel obedience from Isaac, who was a fully-grown youth (v.9).

THE VICTORY OF FAITH (Gen. 22:10-14).

When Abraham took the knife and raised it to slay his son, Isaac was as good as dead (v.10). At this crucial point the voice of Yahweh came clearly to Abraham and prevented him from slaying Isaac. Isaac was released; he had virtually been resurrected from the dead (cp. Heb. 11:19).

Abraham was shown a ram, caught in a thicket. This he offered up as a burnt offering. That Abraham contemplated the significance of that day's events and realized they pointed forward to the Christ, is borne out by the statement of Jesus, "Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad" (Jn. 8:56).

A very powerful testimony is given by James in chapter 2:22: "Seest thou how faith (based on the promises God made to him) wrought with his works (co-operated with or motivated him) and by works was faith made perfect." Abraham's faith was not dormant but active. The works he did showed that his faith was more than mere profession € they complemented or perfected his faith.

Abraham experienced the grief that God Himself would have to endure when His Son would be put to death. He too would see His Son willingly travail in pain that a seed might be brought forth (Isa. 53:10-12). Abraham named the place "Yahweh-yireh", which means "Yahweh will provide" (AV margin). The same word "yireh" occurs in verse 8 in the reply of Abraham, "My son, God will provide himself a Lamb". In the outwork ing of time God did provide the Lamb € "He gave His only begotten Son..." (Jn. 3:16; Lk. 23:33; 1 Pet. 1:18-20).

THE DIVINE REASSURANCE (Gen. 22:15-19).

Because of his outstanding obedience and faith, God gave Abraham an even greater assurance € He confirmed the covenant with an oath, saying, "By myself have I sworn..." (v.16; Heb. 6:17-18). More details of the covenant were then revealed. Yahweh said He would: €

• bless Abraham personally: "in blessing, I will bless thee."
• grant him innumerable descendants: "in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed."
• establish world rule through his seed, the Lord Jesus Christ: "thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies."
• extend salvation and blessedness to all nations through Christ: "and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed."

LESSONS FOR US:

• Abraham had to wait thirty years before God gave him Isaac, the promis ed seed. In this way his faith in God's promise of a seed was sorely tried.
• Then God revealed to Abraham that his seed, the Christ, would have to suffer death, and be raised again before he inherited the land forever.
• When God required Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, the promised seed, he obeyed. He believed that God was able to raise him from the dead.
• Because of his obedience the promise was confirmed to Abraham by an oath.
• We can have the same assurance of a part in the Kingdom if we follow Abraham's faithful example. It will be given at the second coming of Christ.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 1, Pages 100-144, 111-127

"Letter to the Hebrews" (J. Carter) € Pages 139-146

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 3

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Part Second, Chapter 2

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. Briefly discuss the statement "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).
2. What are the borders of the land promised to Abraham? Give a verse as proof
3. Why was Ishmael not to be the promised seed?
4. How was Abraham able to meet the test of offering up Isaac?
5. What parallels are there between the sacrifice of Isaac and the sacrifice of Christ?
6. How can we develop a faith like Abraham?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the sacrifice of Isaac.
2. In what way did the sacrifice of Isaac point forward to the sacrifice of Christ?