Faith Through Contradiction: Abraham's Test of Trust

 

Summary

Abraham's story in Genesis 22 is a profound illustration of faith, as highlighted in Hebrews 11. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, which presented a significant contradiction. God, who commanded not to kill, was now asking for a sacrifice that seemed to defy His own laws. This test was not just a challenge to Abraham's faith but also to his emotional stability and family dynamics, particularly with his wife, Sarah. When God places us in situations that don't make sense, it often involves contradictions that test our faith deeply. The question is whether we can trust God enough to follow His commands, even when they seem to contradict our understanding.

Abraham's journey to the mountain of sacrifice was marked by a steadfast focus on God, despite the earthly pain he was experiencing. He kept his eyes on the divine promise, demonstrating that faith often involves looking heavenward while enduring earthly trials. God did not intervene in Abraham's journey until he was ready to complete his obedience. This teaches us that God desires to see our faith through to completion, not just in words or intentions but in action.

As Abraham ascended one side of the mountain, God was preparing deliverance on the other side, symbolized by a ram caught in the thicket. This quiet ram was a divine provision, revealed only when Abraham's obedience was complete. The deeper the trial, the greater the purpose and blessing that follow. When Abraham passed the test, God declared, "Now I know that you fear me." This statement highlights that God desires to experience our trust, not just know about it intellectually.

God's tests are not random; they are purposeful. The test Abraham faced was not a simple quiz but a final exam, indicating a significant purpose and a promise of greater blessings. When we pass such tests, God unveils promises and blessings that we are now ready to receive.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith often involves facing contradictions that challenge our understanding and emotions. Trusting God in these moments requires us to look beyond the apparent contradictions and focus on His promises. [00:30]

- True faith is demonstrated through action, not just words. God desires to see our faith completed through obedience, even when it requires us to go to the "nth degree." [02:35]

- God's provision often comes at the moment of complete obedience. As we ascend our mountains of trial, God is simultaneously preparing our deliverance. [02:47]

- God desires to experience our trust, not just know about it. He values the experience of seeing us choose Him over the most precious things in our lives. [04:32]

- The magnitude of the test often correlates with the magnitude of the blessing. When we pass significant tests of faith, God reveals greater purposes and blessings that we are prepared to receive. [05:14]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - The Contradiction of Faith
[00:57] - Emotional and Family Challenges
[01:13] - Trusting God Amid Contradictions
[01:42] - Abraham's Journey of Faith
[02:07] - Completing Obedience
[02:35] - The Nth Degree of Faith
[02:47] - Divine Provision
[03:13] - The Greater Purpose of Trials
[03:43] - Experiencing Trust
[04:47] - The Significance of Tests
[05:14] - Unveiling Promises and Blessings

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 22:1-14
- Hebrews 11:17-19

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific command did God give to Abraham in Genesis 22, and how did it contradict God's previous commands? [00:30]

2. How did Abraham demonstrate his faith during his journey to the mountain, according to the sermon? [01:42]

3. What was the significance of the ram caught in the thicket, and when was it revealed to Abraham? [02:47]

4. What did God declare after Abraham passed the test, and why is this declaration significant? [03:43]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might Abraham's emotional and family dynamics have been affected by God's command to sacrifice Isaac? [00:57]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that faith involves looking beyond apparent contradictions to focus on God's promises? [01:13]

3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between the magnitude of a test and the magnitude of the blessing that follows? [05:00]

4. How does the sermon describe God's desire to experience our trust, and why is this important? [04:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Have you ever faced a situation where God's direction seemed to contradict your understanding or emotions? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [01:13]

2. Abraham kept his focus on God's promise despite his earthly pain. Is there a current trial in your life where you need to shift your focus from the problem to God's promise? How can you do that practically this week? [01:42]

3. The sermon emphasizes completing obedience. Is there an area in your life where you have been hesitant to fully obey God? What steps can you take to move towards complete obedience? [02:07]

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision at the moment of complete obedience. How did that experience impact your faith journey? [02:47]

5. The sermon suggests that God desires to experience our trust. What is one precious thing in your life that you find difficult to trust God with, and how can you begin to surrender it to Him? [04:32]

6. Consider a significant test of faith you have faced or are currently facing. How can you prepare yourself to receive the greater purpose and blessing that may follow? [05:14]

7. How can you support someone in your life who is currently facing a test of faith, and what practical steps can you take to encourage them? [03:27]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God Amid Contradictions
In life, we often face situations that seem to contradict our understanding of God's nature and His promises. Abraham's story in Genesis 22 is a powerful example of this. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, which seemed to contradict His own commandment against killing. This test was not only a challenge to Abraham's faith but also to his emotional stability and family dynamics. When God places us in situations that don't make sense, it often involves contradictions that test our faith deeply. The question is whether we can trust God enough to follow His commands, even when they seem to contradict our understanding. Trusting God in these moments requires us to look beyond the apparent contradictions and focus on His promises. [00:30]

Jeremiah 32:27 (ESV): "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?"

Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that seems contradictory to God's promises. How can you choose to trust God in this situation today?


Day 2: Faith in Action
True faith is not just about words or intentions; it is demonstrated through action. Abraham's journey to the mountain of sacrifice was marked by a steadfast focus on God, despite the earthly pain he was experiencing. He kept his eyes on the divine promise, demonstrating that faith often involves looking heavenward while enduring earthly trials. God desires to see our faith through to completion, not just in words or intentions but in action. This means being willing to go to the "nth degree" in our obedience, even when it requires great sacrifice. [02:35]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can take a specific action to demonstrate your faith. What step can you take today to put your faith into action?


Day 3: Divine Provision in Obedience
God's provision often comes at the moment of complete obedience. As Abraham ascended one side of the mountain, God was preparing deliverance on the other side, symbolized by a ram caught in the thicket. This quiet ram was a divine provision, revealed only when Abraham's obedience was complete. The deeper the trial, the greater the purpose and blessing that follow. When we are willing to trust God fully and obey His commands, we can be assured that He is simultaneously preparing our deliverance. [02:47]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision after a step of obedience. How can this memory encourage you to trust in His provision today?


Day 4: Experiencing Trust
God desires to experience our trust, not just know about it intellectually. He values the experience of seeing us choose Him over the most precious things in our lives. When Abraham passed the test, God declared, "Now I know that you fear me." This statement highlights that God desires to experience our trust in a tangible way. It is not enough for God to know about our trust; He wants to see it in action. This means choosing God over everything else, even when it requires great sacrifice. [04:32]

Psalm 37:5 (ESV): "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

Reflection: What is one thing you hold dear that you need to trust God with? How can you demonstrate your trust in Him with this today?


Day 5: The Magnitude of Tests and Blessings
The magnitude of the test often correlates with the magnitude of the blessing. The test Abraham faced was not a simple quiz but a final exam, indicating a significant purpose and a promise of greater blessings. When we pass significant tests of faith, God reveals greater purposes and blessings that we are prepared to receive. This teaches us that God's tests are not random; they are purposeful and designed to prepare us for greater things. [05:14]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Consider a recent trial you have faced. How might God be using this test to prepare you for greater blessings? What steps can you take to embrace this preparation process?

Quotes

"One of the great illustrations of faith that Hebrews 11 talks about is when God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. What makes this challenge to Abraham's faith so big is that it involved a contradiction. You see, it was God who said that we shouldn't kill, and yet it was that same God who told him to sacrifice his son. We're told that Abraham loved Isaac in Genesis 22, so he had to go against his own emotional stability and well-being, and how would he explain this to Sarah, his wife, the mother of Isaac?" [00:18:57]

"When God wants to do something big in your life and mine, he will put us in a test that involves things that don't make sense, a contradiction, and sometimes even with tears running down our eyes, will we trust God enough to do what he says, even when it doesn't make sense and God seems like he's contradicting himself?" [00:65:84]

"Abraham got up early and he began to make that walk toward the mountain of sacrifice of Isaac. It says on his way, he kept looking. In fact, Jesus said, Abraham saw my day and was glad. He kept his eyes heavenly even though he was walking with the pain of earth. Isn't that how it is with the trial? You're looking to heaven but you're hurting on earth." [00:91:52]

"God did not intervene until he was ready to complete his obedience. Didn't intervene when he got up, didn't intervene when he was walking, didn't intervene when he was tying Isaac up. He didn't intervene until obedience was ready to be completed. What you need to know about faith is that God wants to see us to complete our faith, not just promise it, talk about it, and go halfway. He must see us go to the nth degree and trust him all the way." [00:129:59]

"Little did Abraham know as he was going up one side of the mountain, God was bringing up deliverance on the other side of the mountain, a ram caught in the thicket. Now, when rams get caught in the thicket, they make noise because they're trying to get out. This was the quietest thicket caught ram in the history of rams. That's because God was not ready to reveal his solution until obedience had been completed." [00:163:76]

"The deeper the trial God puts you in, the greater the purpose for the trial and the greater the blessing that will come as your obedience is the result of you passing the test of faith. Another thing happened, God said when Abraham passed the test, 'Now I know that you fear me.' That's an interesting phrase, isn't it? 'Now I know.' Wait a minute, you're an omniscient God, wouldn't you already know?" [00:199:92]

"God does not know an experience until he experiences it. He says, 'Now I know what it feels like to be fully trusted in the life of a man.' He was talking about entering into historical emotions, not intellectual knowledge. Of course, he knew what Abraham would do, but God loves to experience our trust, not just hear about it, hear us talk about it, hear us witness about it, hear us pray about it. He loves the experience of seeing us choose him even over the most precious things in our lives." [00:231:51]

"When you are facing a big test that doesn't make sense, that means there's a whopper purpose. This was not a pop quiz, this was a final exam. Sometimes God gives us little tests, medium tests, but the test of Abraham, where you sacrifice the dearest thing in your life, that means God has a bigger purpose." [00:287:44]

"God now says because you did this, I now will unveil to you things that I promised many years ago that now you're ready to receive. So get ready for a big blessing because you've passed a major exam." [00:307:84]

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Transcript
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