Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 4 September 2021

Scripture Text: Genesis 22:1-14

Message: “God tested Abraham” Pastor Charles Tan

INTRODUCTION

1. General Tests of Life

a) Adversity
Famine in the land of Canaan Genesis 12

b) Family strife
Strife between Lot and Abram Genesis 13

c) Facing Danger
The choice to rescue Lot Genesis 14

2. Tests of Faith

a) Promise of Blessing

The promise of blessing
given when Abram was 75 years old Genesis 12:1-3

b) Promise of a son

The promise of a son Genesis 15-18

c) A long wait

i) 11 years of waiting

The Test of Waiting on God Genesis 16:16
Hagar and Ishmael

ii) 25 years of waiting

Abraham was 100 years old
when Isaac was born Genesis 21:5

THE GREATEST TEST YET

1. God’s word to Abraham

a) “Take now your son, your only son Isaac”

b) “Whom you love”

c) “Go to the land of Moriah”

d) “And offer him as a burnt offering
on one of the mountains of which
I shall tell you” Genesis 22:2

2. The Amazing Response of Abraham

a) Immediate response

“So Abraham rose early in the morning
And saddled his donkey” Genesis 22:3a

b) Preparation

i) Servants
“Took two of his young men with him” Genesis 22:3b

ii) Isaac
“And Isaac his son”

iii) Wood for the sacrifice
“And split wood for the burnt offering” Genesis 22:3C

iv) Venue: Moriah
“And went to the place of which
God had told him” Genesis 22:3d

3. A long Journey

a) Three-day journey

“On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes
And saw the place afar off” Genesis 22:4

b) The Journey itself
It was a Test of Abraham’s Resolve

4. A Word of Faith to the servants

a) Servants were to stay
“Stay here with the donkey” Genesis 22:5a

b) We will come back to you

“The lad and I will go yonder and worship,
And we will come back to you” Genesis 22:5b

5. The last part of the Journey to Moriah

a) Abraham and Isaac

b) The Burnt Offering Sacrifice

i) Isaac carries the wood

“So Abraham took the wood
Of the burnt offering and laid it
On Isaac his son” Genesis 22:6a

ii) The fire

“And he took the fire in his hand” Genesis 22:6b

iii) A knife

“And a knife” Genesis 22:6c

iv) Together

“And the two of them went together” Genesis 22:6d

6. A Painful Conversation

a) Isaac

“Look, the fire and the wood,
But where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Genesis 22:7

b) Abraham

“My son, God will provide for Himself
The lamb for the burnt offering” Genesis 22:8

c) Together

“So the two of them went together” Genesis 22:8b

AT MOUNT MORIAH

1. Reaching Mount Moriah

“Then they came to the place of which
God had told him” Genesis 22:9a

2. Building the altar

“And Abraham built an altar there
And placed the wood in order” Genesis 22:9b

3. Binding Isaac

“And he bound Isaac his son
And laid him on the altar, upon the wood” Genesis 22:9c

4. The sacrificial knife

“And Abraham stretched out his hand
And took the knife to slay his son” Genesis 22:10

THE ANGEL OF THE LORD

1. Calling out to Abraham

“But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven
And said,
“Abraham, Abraham!” Genesis 22:11a

2. Responding to the Angel of the LORD

“Here I am” Genesis 22:11b

3. A word to Abraham

“Do not lay your hand on the lad,
Or do anything to him;” Genesis 22:12a

4. Commendation of Abraham

“For now I know that you fear God,
And you have not withheld your son,
Your only son, from Me.” Genesis 22:12b

THE LORD-WILL-PROVIDE

1. A ram

“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked,
And there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket
By its horns” Genesis 22:13a

2. A burnt offering

“So Abraham went and took the ram,
And offered it up for a burnt offering
Instead of his son” Genesis 22:13b

3. The name of the place

“And Abraham called the name of the place
‘The LORD-Will-Provide’” Genesis 22:14a

4. A Proverbial Truth

“In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided” Genesis 22:14b

CONCLUSION

1. The Principle of Testing

a) This is a Truth

b) There will be the Testing of our Faith

2. The Point of Testing

a) Will our Faith hold?

b) Will we pass the Test?

3. The Power of Faith

a) To believe in God and His provision

b) To fear the Lord in personal practice