Sunday, June 29, 2008
"God Sees It Through"
Genesis 22:1-14
The setting is Ohio State University about six or seven years ago in a huge lecture hall (approximately 1000 students) for a Calculus final.

Apparently this particular calculus teacher wasn't very well liked. He was one of those guys who would stand at the front of the class and yell out how much time was remaining before the end of a test, a real charmer. Since he was so busy gallivanting around the room making sure that nobody cheated and that everyone was aware of how much time they had left before their failure on the test was complete, he had the students stack the completed tests on the huge podium at the front of the room. This made for quite a mess, remember there were 1000 students in the class.

During this particular final, one guy entered the test needing a decent grade to pass the class. His only problem with Calculus was that he did poorly when rushed, and this guy standing in the front of the room barking out how much time was left before the tests had to be handed in didn't help him at all. He figured he wanted to assure himself of a good grade, so he hardly flinched when the professor said "pencils down and submit your scantron sheets and work to piles at the front of the room". Five minutes turned into ten, ten into twenty, twenty into forty...almost an hour after the test was "officially over", our friend finally put down his pencil, gathered up his work, and headed to the front of the hall to submit his final. The whole time, the professor sat at the front of the room, strangely waiting for the student to complete his exam.

"What do you think you're doing?" the professor asked as the student stood in front of him about to put down his exam on one of the neatly stacked piles of exams (the professor had plenty of time to stack the mountain of papers while he waited) It was clear that the professor had waited only to give the student a hard time.

"Turning in my exam," retorted the student confidently. "I'm afraid I have some bad news for you," the professor gloated, "Your exam is an hour late. You've failed it and, consequently, I'll see you next term when you repeat my course."

The student smiled slyly and asked the professor "Do you know who I am?"

"What?" replied the professor gruffly, annoyed that the student showed no sign of emotion.

The student rephrased the question mockingly, "Do you know what my name is?"

"No", snarled the professor.

The student looked the professor dead in the eyes and said slowly, "I didn't think so", as he lifted up one of the stacks half way, shoved his test neatly into the center of the stack, let the stack fall burying his test in the middle, turned around, and walked casually out of the huge lecture hall. Source Unknown. It is pretty safe to assume that his test would turn out ok. We get word right away, in verse one of today’s passage, that there is going to be a test – the kind of test that seems doomed to failure.

Without the warning of a coming test, we would be even more appalled as we travel further into this story. This warning helps us to see God’s real purpose here. God was not going to rub Isaac out in some cruel way. God wanted to see about the quality of Abraham’s faith. What is the quality of your faith today? Would it pass a test?

Tests are not uncommon. Hear these words:
(2 Cor 13:5 NIV) Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

(1 Pet 1:6 NRSV) In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,
(1 Pet 1:7 NRSV) so that the genuineness of your faith--being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

God is interested in the value of our faith – its roots - its sincerity – its progress!

We find that this incident is STILL A COMPLETE SHOCK TO US. There is no lack of getting our attention in this passage. We might say, what kind of father would even listen to such a voice? Abraham was a godly man. He walked very closely with God. He communicated with God on a regular basis – the key ingredient for a strong faith. What do we find him doing the next day after the news. He gets up very early. I imagine that he went off to pray even before he saddled his donkey and cut the wood. He knew God’s voice. He could discern God’s voice from all the other voices that clamored for his attention. He, too, was probably shocked. But he knew that somehow, God would provide, if he remained obedient to God.

God gave Abraham three orders:
TAKE your son, your only son…
What is most precious to you? Indeed, Isaac was the hinge upon which God’s promise of many descendants swung. Isaac was his precious son, flesh of his flesh, and his legacy. Perhaps Abraham only saw Isaac as a means to keep the family name going.

We must never think of people as a means to an end. We must not use them or treat them as objects – as pawns to be manipulated. This defaces the divine image.

What is most precious to you? Have you committed that person or thing to the great will of God. You can only put him, her or it in its proper place when you do.

GO to the region of Moriah
Abraham left Beersheba and headed to Moriah – about the same distance from Jerusalem as if you were traveling from Clarksburg to Buckhannon. It is believed that Solomon’s temple was built on Mt. Moriah, and that the altar of the temple was the exact spot where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

Go. Where is God calling you to go? Is it to go to someone and to offer forgiveness? Is it to strike out in a new direction, one that God has been prompting you to do – a new job, a new ministry? Never be afraid that if you Go for God that you will somehow be unhappy or unable. God will see it through. God will provide joy and ability.

SACRIFICE HIM there as a burnt offering
“You can’t be serious!!! My son, my only on, upon whom all my dreams and hopes rest!” That is how I would have reacted. But Abraham went with quiet trust.

No sacrifice for God ever goes unblessed. Abraham’s faith was rewarded. He heard God’s voice. He received his son. He became a great nation.

Abraham names the sacrificial altar “Yahweh Yireh” - literally “The Lord will provide.” No matter what, god will provide. Do you believe this? I do! Will you help me preach this belief? Respond with me. I’ll give you an example, and you tell me God provides. When a spouse leaves – God provides. When a child dies – God provides. When a job is lost – God provides. When someone is made fun of – God provides. When health is called into question – God provides! When we are hurting – God provides! When we are lost – God provides! When our faith is in God – God provides!

You know, we only truly receive our family when we give them up to God. We only truly receive help when we give up that worry to God – whatever it may be. We gain when we give up and let God have His way. It was true then. It is true now.

Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail's pace of the other.
Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.
One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, friends, talents, gifts – even money. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination or that it is managed wisely. But if selfishness takes priority over people, people often suffer. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to achieve the number one slot? How many people never reach the destination because of the aggressiveness of a competitive captain?
Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, Word Publishing, 1991, pp. 97-98.

So, who’s the captain of your ship?

God wishes to be the captain. God sacrificed his son for that very purpose. Do you perceive such a love? Dock your ship at His dock. Take him aboard, and let him steer your way in every area of your life. God will see you through!