A brief overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders of Lifeway’s Explore the Bible lesson of Genesis 22:1-14 “A Substitute”, for March 3, 2024. A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRODUCTION: Gene Kranz, who was famous for being at the helm at the Houston Space Center Mission Control, wrote about the time when before the final Gemini 6 space flight in 1965, they did a final, full-blown mission dress rehearsal, involving all sites and teams in Mission Control. During the simulation, Flight Director Chris Fendell said he did not feel well. Moments later, he stood up from his chair, grasping his chest, emitted a groan, and then crumpled to the floor. The team momentarily forgot the simulation as the flight surgeon ministered to Fendell. Amid the tangle of headset cords, Chris Kraft was told: “Chris, Fendell just had a heart attack.” Although deeply concerned about his CapCom, not even a heart attack could be allowed to interfere with the mission preparation. With Fendell on the floor at his feet, he took control of the site’s part of the simulation. For the next hour and a half, with everyone in the loop worrying about Fendell, the simulation went flawlessly.” It turned out, Fendell did NOT have a heart attack; he had been told to fake one, to test the response of the team to an emergency, during the simulation. (Gene Kranz, Failure Is Not An Option, p. 157) It was just a test!

In our lesson for today from Genesis 22, we see where God asks Abraham to do something very difficult — but in the end, he didn’t have to do it. It was just a test!

CONTEXT
We left off with Sarah and Abraham laughing when God told them they would have a child, and God “doubling down” on His promise, and in fact telling them to call him “Isaac” when he was born, which means “He laughs”! Then we had an important interlude in the story, as the Lord dealt with Sodom & Gomorrah, showing that He is a holy God of justice, as well as a God of grace — we saw both in that story.
Now since that time, in Chapter 21 Abraham and Sarah DID finally have that son, and they named him Isaac. This was an amazing, miraculous answer to God’s promise — but Abraham’s exuberance over that birth was soon tested, as we see in our passage from today in Genesis 22.

OUTLINE
I. The Test (:1-2)
II. The Obedience (:3-10)
III. The Substitute (:11-14)

TEXT

I. THE TEST (:1-2)
Verse 1 “Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘here I am.”
(:2) “He said ‘Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”

Notice first of all that this was a TEST. We aren’t “reading into it” or making assumptions, etc. It clearly states here, that “God tested Abraham.”

And notice how SPECIFIC God was here about just WHO Abraham was being tested about:
Do you how clear and emphatic He was in :2? He told him to take: “your SON, your ONLY son, whom you LOVE, ISAAC.”
So with 4 different terms God says very clearly, THIS is the one I am asking you about. It wasn’t just any son; or Ishmael; or anyone else. THIS one: Isaac, his son he loved. It could not be more clear or emphatic.

And just WHAT did He ask Abraham to do?
:2 says: “go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.”
He asked Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to Him on Mt. Moriah.

This may sound incredible to us — and indeed it IS unfathomable. But we also need to know, in the context of the time in which Abraham lived, that it was the custom of many ancient peoples to offer their children as burnt offerings to their gods. The worshipers of Molech did that; they would pass their children through the fire. It was a horrible, but a customary thing for them to do in those days. They offered their children to their god.

So in light of that, in a sense God was asking Abraham: Are you willing to do for ME, the true God, what they will do for their false gods? Do you love ME as much as these other peoples love their gods? That’s really a pretty good question, isn’t it?

So how do we apply this today? In one sense, we might think: NONE of us will ever be tested like Abraham was here. This is one of those “once in forever” kind of things that will never happen again: none of us are 100+ years old, have a son, and have God ask us to sacrifice him! That is just not going to happen to us. But there ARE a couple of ways we can apply this to our lives today:

— One application might be: that God will not ask us to literally sacrifice our children like He did Abraham. But on the other hand, He may indeed give us a SIMILAR test: are we willing to give up something that is very important to us, because He asks us to?
Whenever He does that today, we face the same basic test that Abraham did here. Are we willing to do what He asks us, even when it is something very precious to us?
??? What are some things God might ask US to give up today, that might be hard for us???
(Time to Him for devotions/church; tithe from our money; give up some habit or pleasure because it is not good for us/or may harm others; some tv shows/movies that we enjoy but are a bad influence; some relationships that are dragging us down spiritually, etc.)

And then a second application might be: He’s not going to ask us to literally sacrifice our children, but He DOES still test us regarding our children, doesn’t He?
??? What are some ways we could be tested regarding our children today???
(Are we willing to obey God when we think it might be detrimental to our kids?
EX: When Cheryl & I were called to pastor in Louisiana in 2000, we had a VERY clear call to go. But one negative was our kids: our older kids were 15, 13, & 11. HORRIBLE age to move them, away from a great church, and good friends, and schools and activities. You hear of so many kids who get hurt in moves like that. So it was “risky” from a human standpoint. But I was convinced that if this was truly God’s will, He would take care of our kids. We had to trust them to Him. It’s at a much smaller level, but still in a way very similar in type to Abraham’s test. We have to trust our children to God.)

Another question you could ask your group, to help apply this:
??? What are some things that people do for their “gods” or religions, or even their priorities, that we as God’s people might be unwilling to give Him??? What are some ways WE might be tested in that same way that Abraham was?
(Some people give up their jobs for their religion; are we willing to do that?
Some people give up their money? Are we willing to give the money God asks us?
Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are willing to knock on doors to witness to their faith; are we willing to do that?
Some religions pray for hours, and fast for days. Are we willing to do that?
What are some other things God might test US on, saying, other religions/other people are willing to give up some things for their faith; for their god; for their belief system — are WE willing to do for the TRUE GOD, what they are willing to do for their false god?

II. THE OBEDIENCE (:3-10)
So what was Abraham’s response to God’s direction here?
:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and the split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

??? What all indications do you see here of Abraham’s response of obedience???
— He rose EARLY. This is often a key sign of obedience. The old expression is “Delayed obedience is disobedience.” When you know God wants you to do something, GO DO IT! NOW! Don’t wait for tomorrow, or “a more convenient time.” Do it now. “Rise up early” and do it.
Is there something right now that you know God wants you to do? Do it today. Don’t wait. (And also an important word about our daily walk with the Lord: “rise up early” to spend time with him. SO often we see how people of God get up early to do His will. Abraham did here too. He didn’t “drag his feet,” put it off, etc., he got up early and went. This is real obedience!
— “he split wood for the burnt offering.” He prepared everything to really do it. He didn’t go without wood, secretly hoping there wouldn’t be any there! He took it with him, so there would be no excuse. He made every provision to do what God told him.
Again, a great example for us. If you are really going to obey God, do the practical things it takes to make it happen.
— “and went to the place of which God had told him.” He just DID IT! He went exactly where God told him to go.

Abraham is a great model for us, of obedience. Obedience is a big deal to God. Many Christians today seem to think that we’re being great Christians because we “know things” about the Bible. But God doesn’t just want our “knowledge;” He wants our obedience.
— He said in I Samuel 15:22, “To obey is better than sacrifice.”
— Jesus said in Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not DO what I say?”
Obedience is a huge thing to God. One big question for each of us today is: Is there any area in my life today, where God has asked me to do something, and I have not done it? Or asked me to stop something, and I have not obeyed? It’s a big deal. God wants us to obey. “Get up early” — or go at it today when you leave church today, depending on what it is — and OBEY.
Your relationship with God will have a “cloud” over it until you obey. It’s like the old hymn says: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

We can only imagine what Abraham was going through in this experience. He could not have understood all this. But in His obedience, Abraham had faith. We see one specific example of that in :8, after Isaac asks him in :7, “Where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” In :8 “Abraham said, ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb.”
He trusted God. He believed that He would provide.
Hebrews gives us some insight into Abraham’s thinking. In Hebrews 11:19 it says: “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he received him back, as a type.” So evidently Abraham thought he might have to offer him — but that God would raise him from the dead if he did.
THAT is faith!

And we see the ultimate example of his faith in :10, where it says: “Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”
That must have been the most unimaginably difficult moment of his life. But what is the significance of this verse?
(HE WAS GOING TO DO IT! He went so far as to stretch out his hand to take the knife! He was going to go all the way in his obedience to God. An amazing example for us.

You might ask your group, or share a personal testimony:
??? Is there something God asked YOU to do, that was very difficult for you to obey???

And then apply this by challenging your group:
Is there anything hard that God is asking YOU to do today?
IF IT IS GOD WHO IS ASKING IT — and this is a key; not everything we “dream up,” or that others think is God’s will, really is. We need to be careful about that. Faith is stepping out IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD. Abraham didn’t just dream this plan up and ask God to bless it. God told him to do it. Hebrews 11 makes it clear that all of the people of faith were acting in response to God’s word. We need to make sure that is what WE are doing as well. Make sure what you are doing is from God’s word — and if it is, then respond and obey no matter what. You’ll be following in Abraham’s steps!

III. THE SUBSTITUTE (:11-14)
Right when Abraham stretched out his hand to take the knife,
:11 “But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ (:12) He said, ‘Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’

So God stopped him at the last minute, and did NOT have him actually sacrifice Isaac. As we saw in :1, it was a TEST.

Probably a number of us can share about times when we were tested to see if we were willing to give up something for the Lord — but we ended up not having to. But it was a TEST. Were we WILLING to? Are we WILLING to do what God asks, even though it is very difficult?

I’ve had several experiences in my life, where I felt like God was asking me to do something difficult, but then it ended up I didn’t have to do it. I’ve felt like those times in my life were a test, like Abraham’s here.
One particular one is after I got sick in 2012 and had to step out of ministry for a couple of years. After I began to get well, I met a businessman in the church we were attending, and he asked if I had considered pastoring an English-speaking church in China. I said I hadn’t, but I would be open to it. So we gave him our resume, and the door seemed to be opening. Cheryl can tell you all the things that went through her mind, things that she would have to give up in the move: being away from our grand babies, not having an American kitchen, which is a big deal to her — the whole move and cultural differences — on top of me recently being sick. We went as far as an interview with the church leaders, and they said, This is great; you will hear back from us shortly — and we were prepared to move to China. But we never heard from them again. Not a word. Eventually I looked up on their website and saw they had called a pastor. But we never heard from them. But we were ready to go! And looking back, we felt like it was a test: were we WILLING to go wherever God was calling us? (And it ended up, He called us to North Carolina, not far from two of our kids and our new grand babies! So we were willing to give that up — but He gave it to us anyway. But it was a test. Were we willing to do it?

You/others in your group may stories like that too: where you were just tested: were you WILLING to do something, even though God did not have you do it in the end. That is similar to what Abraham went through here.

And the reason he did not have to sacrifice his son Isaac, is that at the last moment, God provided a substitute:
(:13) “Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. (:14) Abraham called the name of that place ‘THE LORD WILL PROVIDE,’ as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’”

So at the last minute (which God often seems to do to test us) God provided a substitute to take Isaac’s place.

God provided in this story an amazing picture of what He would do for us in the Messiah, Jesus, who would take our place as our Substitute by dying for us on the cross. He provided a Substitute.

Here’s great illustration on a SUBSTITUTE that you can share:
During World War II, a Polish priest, Father Maximilian Kolbe was found guilty of the crime of publishing unapproved materials and sentenced to the German concentration camp at Auschwitz. He arrived at the camp in May of 1941. In July, a man escaped from Barracks 14 at the camp. That meant death from some of those who remained.
After the roll call, Camp Commandant Fritsch began to speak, “The fugitive has not been found,” he screamed. “Ten of you will die for him in the starvation bunker. Soon there were ten men – ten numbers neatly listed on the death roll. One groaned, sweating with fear. “My poor wife; my poor children! What will they do?”
Suddenly there was a commotion in the ranks. A prisoner called for the commandant. It was unheard of but instead of shooting the prisoner, he shouted at him.“What does this Polish pig want of me?”
It was Father Kolbe, who said softly, “I would like to die in place of one of the men you condemned.”
Fritsch stared at the prisoner. “Why?”
“I am an old man, sir, and good for nothing. My life will serve no purpose.”
“In whose place do you want to die?” asked Fritsch.
“For that one,” Kolbe responded, pointing to the weeping prisoner with a wife and children.
“Who are you?” Fritsch asked.
The prisoner looked back at him, a strange fire in his dark eyes. “I am a priest.”
The commandant nodded. Kolbe’s place on the death ledger was set. (Chuck Colson, The Volunteer At Auschwitz)

That’s an amazing story of man who gave himself as a substitute for another. “Who are you?” The commandant asked. Father Kolbe could have said, “I am a substitute.” Kolbe gave his life as a substitute for the other man.

And of course, that’s a picture of what Jesus did for us. At the cross, God provided a Substitute for us, just like He provided the substitute ram for Isaac in Genesis 22. As John the Baptist proclaimed, Jesus is the Ultimate “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” HE is the lamb who was substituted as a sacrifice for our sins. This is the crucial Bible doctrine that theologians call the “Substitutionary Atonement” of Jesus for us; that He took our place on the cross, dying for our sins, so that we could be saved. This doctrine of the Substitutionary Atonement is taught all through scripture.

One primary place where that is taught is in Isaiah 53. Our church is currently studying Isaiah 53 leading up to Easter, focusing on the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Over and over we see in Isaiah 53 the “Substitutionary Atonement” of Jesus:
— :4 “OUR griefs, HE Himself bore, and OUR sorrows, HE carried.”
— :5 “But HE was pierced through for OUR transgressions, HE was crushed for OUR iniquities; the chastening for OUR well-being fell upon HIM, and by HIS scourging, WE are healed.
— :6 “The Lord has caused the iniquity of US all to fall on HIM”
— :8 “HE was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my PEOPLE, to whom the stroke was due.”
— :11 “HE will bear THEIR iniquities”
— :12 “HE Himself bore the sin of MANY”

You see all the indications of “substitution” in Isaiah 53? Over and over it is that “OUR” punishments fell upon “HIM;” that “HE” bore “OUR” punishments. “He took our … He took our …”. Isaiah 53 is perhaps the most in-depth explanation of what Jesus did for us on the cross — and amazingly, it was written 700 years before Christ was ever born. But centuries in advance, it predicted the Substitutionary Atonement of Jesus, how He would die for us on the cross.

Be sure your class understands this doctrine. Whether they learn the words “Substitutionary Atonement” or not, make sure they realize that Jesus died for THEM, and that they need to trust what HE did to save them, and not their own works.

So God provided a ram to substitute to die for Isaac, and He provided His own Son to die as a Substitute for us.

Then (:14) “Abraham called the name of that place ‘THE LORD WILL PROVIDE’, as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’”

The English expression here “The LORD WILL PROVIDE” here in Hebrew is “YHWH Jireh,” or “Jehovah Jireh,” “The Lord the Provider”
We talked a couple of weeks ago about how when God meets with various people, He gives/reveals a certain name of His to them.
In Chapter 17 we saw He appeared to Abraham and said, “I am El Shaddai” — God Almighty.
Now here He is “Jehovah Jireh,” the Lord the Provider.

A lot of people claim this name, “Jehovah Jireh,” for God’s provision for them in material needs — and God IS a God who provides our needs, often in miraculous or extraordinary ways — Cheryl & I have experienced this ourselves a number of times. But we need to make sure we understand that by far the greatest provision He made for us, was the Substitute He Provided for us on the cross, when Jesus died for our sins!

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