Testing the Promise

Jason Martin

From the Beginning...

The LORD has proven to be able to do what He promised in the Covenant with Abraham.

Ishmael is now married to an Egyptian and living in Paran - with Hagar seemingly nearby.

Abraham now only has the son of the Promise, Isaac.

He has proven to be TRUSTWORTHY.

Will Abraham trust Him?

A Father’s Love

Genesis 22:1-2 - This is normal behavior for these pagan religions. God is testing Abraham’s loyalty while setting up an opportunity to show him that He’s different.

Genesis 22:3 - obeyed immediately

Genesis 22:4 - dead 3 days

Genesis 22:5 - faith they would both return

Genesis 22:6 - the son carried the wood that he would be sacrificed on

Genesis 22:7-8 - Abraham had faith that God would provide a lamb for the sacrifice

Genesis 22:9-10 - Abraham had faith that somehow God would still keep His promises

At this point, Abraham is about to go through with this ritual from the pagans he was called away from. This was their culture.

Hebrews 11:17–19 “17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

The LORD is showing Abraham that He is different, and His statutes are different.

Genesis 22:11 - The Angel / Messenger / Mal-ak of Yahweh called from Heaven - That’s Who is talking.

Genesis 22:12 - Abraham fears Who? because Abraham didn’t withhold Isaac from Who? Where’s He talking from?

Genesis 22:13 - a substitution - what’s that pointing toward?

Genesis 22:14 - around 2,000 years later Jesus would be sacrificed as the ‘Lamb of God’ on the northern peak of that same mountain ridge

Genesis 22:15 - Who’s talking?

Genesis 22:16 - Who’s talking? only son? Kinda. What’s that point to?

Genesis 22:17 - Who’s talking?

Genesis 22:18 - voice / message

Genesis 22:19 - The people Abraham told both of them would return to in Gen 22:5.

This was to point towards a one-time fulfillment in Christ

It was to show YHWH to be different from the other gods

Our test might be sacrificing a sinful lifestyle or sinful desires

Or being humble, or seeking reconciliation, or dealing with bitterness in our hearts.

Exported from Logos Bible Study, 7:15 AM October 28, 2026.