DIGGING DEEP NO. 901 – October 12th, 2021 THE SCHOOL OF FAITH (PART 2) Gen.22: 1- 18.

Depend on God’s provision – Gen.22: 6- 14. The Lord will provide. Abraham was confident that God would meet every need.

Abraham could depend on the promise and provision of the Lord. He had already experienced the resurrection power of God in his own body Rom.4: 19- 21, so he knew that God could raise Isaac from the dead if that was His plan. God did provide the sacrifice that was needed, and a ram took Isaac’s place on the altar Gen.22: 13.

Where does the Lord provide our needs? In the place of His assignment. Abraham was at the right place, so God could meet his needs. We have no right to expect the provision of God if we are not in the will of God.

When does God meet our needs? Just when we have the need. Heb.4: 16. Sometimes it looks as God waits until the last minute to send help, but that is only from our human point of view; God is never late.

How does God provide for us? In ways that are usually quite natural. God did not send an angel with a sacrifice; He simply allowed a ram to get caught in a bush at a time when Abraham needed it and, in a place, where Abraham could get his hands on it. All Abraham needed was one animal, so God did not send a whole flock of sheep.

To whom does God give His provision? To those who trust Him and obey His instructions. When we are doing the will of God, we have the right to expect the provision of God. “When God’s work is done in God’s way, it will not lack God’s support”.

Why does God provide for our every need? For the great glory of His name! God was glorified on Mount Moriah because Abraham and Isaac did the will of the Lord. In times of testing, it is easy to think only about our needs and our burdens; instead, we should be focusing on bringing glory to Jesus Christ. We sometimes waste our sufferings by neglecting or ignoring opportunities to reveal Jesus Christ to others who are watching us go through the furnace. Abraham and Isaac revealed Jesus Christ on Mount Moriah. Their experience is a picture of the Father and the Son and the cross found anywhere in the Old Testament Jh.8: 56. In Isaac’s miraculous birth, Abraham saw the day of Christ’s birth; and in Isaac’s marriage (Gen. 24), he saw the day of Christ’s coming for His bride. When Isaac willing put himself on the altar, Abraham saw the day of Christ’s death and resurrection. Abraham did not withhold his son Gen.22: 16, and the Father did not spare His Son but delivered Him up for us all Rom.8: 32. In Isaac’s case, a substitute died for him; but nobody could take the place of Jesus on the cross. He was the only sacrifice that could finally and completely take away the sins of the world. Gen.22: 7 God provided a ram, but Isaac had asked about a lamb. The answer to the question “Where is the lamb?” was given by John the Baptist: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” Jh.1: 29. It is interesting to note that the wood is mentioned five times in the narrative and that Isaac did not start carrying the wood until he arrived at Mount Moriah. The wood is not a picture of the cross, for Jesus did not carry His cross all the way to Calvary. The wood seems to picture the burden of sin that Jesus bore for us 1Pet.2: 24. Abraham took the wood and laid it upon Isaac his son Gen.22: 6; and the Lord has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all Is.53: 6.

Lessons to learn: Abraham received several blessings from God because of his obedient faith.

1. He received a new approval from God Gen.22: 12.

2. He received back a new son. Isaac and Abraham had been at the altar together, and Isaac was now a living sacrifice Rom.12: 1- 2. God gave Isaac to Abraham, and Abraham gave Isaac back to God. We must be careful that God’s gift does not take the place of the Giver.

3. God gave Abraham new assurances Gen.22: 16- 18. The promises of God never shine brighter than in the furnace of affliction. What two men did on a lonely altar would one day bring blessing to the whole world.

4. Abraham also learned a new name for God Gen.22: 14. Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide).

5. Abraham came away from this trial with a deeper love for the Lord.