January 19

Genesis 22-24 (biblegateway.com)

Faith, Provision, and New Beginnings

Abraham faced the greatest test of his life after finally receiving the promised son he had waited for so long. This test was real and designed to demonstrate the depth of his faith. For it to be a true test, it needed to challenge logic and present something that Abraham would naturally want to resist.

In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his only son (v. 1-2). God had previously instructed Abraham to send Ishmael away, and now He commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. This test would reveal the extent of Abraham’s obedience. Would he cling to Isaac now that he had him, or would he surrender him back to the Lord in faith?

Abraham’s response was remarkable—he obeyed immediately and without question, even rising early to begin the task (v. 3). Obediently, Abraham sets out for the region of Moriah with Isaac, two servants, and the wood for the offering (v. 3-4). The three-day journey was likely heavy with silence and emotional difficulty. As seen throughout God’s interactions with humanity, obedience is often challenging because it many times requires us to give up something we deeply desire. When Abraham saw the place in the distance, he left the two servants behind and continued with Isaac alone. His statement, “We will worship, and then we will come back” (v. 5), is noteworthy. All Abraham knew was that (a) God had centered His promises for the future around Isaac, and (b) God was now asking him to sacrifice Isaac. Though he could not reconcile these two truths, he chose to obey anyway. That is faith.

On the way, Isaac notices the lack of a lamb for the sacrifice, and Abraham responds with faith, saying, “God will provide for Himself the lamb” (v. 6-8). When they arrive, Abraham builds an altar, arranges the wood, binds Isaac, and prepares to sacrifice him (v. 9-10). In addition to highlighting the depth of Abraham’s faith, this passage also demonstrates the strength of Isaac’s faith in his submission. Despite having everything to live for, he willingly followed his father’s instructions, trusting that God would provide a lamb.

At the last moment, an angel of the Lord intervenes, stopping Abraham and affirming his reverence and obedience to God (v. 11-12). God provides a ram caught in a thicket as a substitute offering, and Abraham names the place “The Lord Will Provide” (v. 13-14). God tested Abraham, not to make him stumble or fail, but to deepen his capacity to obey God and thus to develop his character. Just as fire refines ore to reveal precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested, we can complain, or we can seek to understand how God is using the trial to stretch and develop our character.

While the main point of these passages is not the doctrine of the Atonement, the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Isaac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us has been noted. Whereas God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, God did not spare his own Son, Jesus, from dying on the cross.

After the encounter, the angel of the Lord reaffirms God’s covenant with Abraham, promising to bless him and multiply his descendants as numerous as the stars and sand. The Lord declares, “By myself, I have sworn” (v. 16). While sinful and fallible human beings swear by an authority higher than themselves, God, the supreme being and authority, swears by Himself. Through Abraham’s offspring, all nations of the earth will be blessed because of his obedience (v. 15-18). Abraham and Isaac then return together, and they settle in Beersheba (v. 19).

This chapter teaches profound lessons about faith, trust, and God’s provision. Abraham’s willingness to obey God, even when asked to sacrifice his “only son,” Isaac, demonstrates a faith that fully trusts in God’s goodness and purpose, even when His plans seem unclear. Abraham’s declaration that “God will provide,” affirmed when God spares Isaac and provides a ram as a substitute, reveals His sovereignty and provision. This story challenges us to surrender what we hold most dear, trusting that God is faithful to provide for our needs and fulfill His promises. In moments of uncertainty or trial, we are reminded to trust God’s wisdom and see those challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth. Just as Abraham learned, we, too, can rely on God to guide and sustain us, knowing that His plans are always good and for His glory.

In Genesis 23, we read about the death of Sarah, Abraham’s wife, at the age of 127 years (v. 1-2). Abraham mourns for her and seeks a burial place for her. He approaches the Hittites, the inhabitants of the land, and asks to buy a piece of land to bury Sarah (v. 3-4). The Hittites offer him the choice of any burial site, but Abraham insists on purchasing the cave of Machpelah, which belongs to Ephron, a Hittite (v. 5-9). Ephron offers the cave freely, but Abraham insists on paying for it in full to ensure the land’s ownership is legally binding (v. 10-13).

Ephron eventually agrees to sell the cave and the surrounding field to Abraham for 400 shekels of silver (v. 14-16). The transaction is made in the presence of the Hittites at the city gate, making it a formal and public purchase (v. 17-18). The cave of Machpelah, located near Hebron, becomes Abraham’s burial site, and Abraham then buries Sarah there, marking it as the first piece of the Promised Land that he officially owns (v. 19-20). By purchasing the cave of Machpelah, Abraham establishes a place of burial for his family, creating a lasting legacy. This act symbolizes the beginning of the inheritance of the land and points forward to the eventual fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham’s descendants. God’s promises, though sometimes delayed, are sure and will come to pass in His timing.

Genesis 24 details the story of how Abraham’s servant finds a wife for Isaac, ensuring the continuation of God’s promises to Abraham through his son. Abraham, now very old and concerned for the future of his family, sends his chief servant to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. He makes the servant swear an oath that he will not take a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites but will go to Abraham’s relatives in Mesopotamia. The servant is also instructed that if the woman does not want to return with him, he is free from the oath (v. 1-9).

The servant travels to the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia, arriving at a well outside the city. He prays for God’s guidance, asking that the woman God has chosen for Isaac will offer him water and also water his camels. This prayer reflects the servant’s faith in God’s leading and his desire to be obedient to Abraham’s wishes (v. 10-14). Before the servant finishes praying, Rebekah, the daughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor, arrives at the well. She fulfills the servant’s prayer by offering him water and then watering his camels as well. The servant is amazed, recognizing this as the answer to his prayer (v. 15-21).

The servant asks Rebekah who her family is, and she reveals that she is the granddaughter of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. The servant then gives her gifts, including gold jewelry, and praises God for leading him to the right woman. Rebekah runs to her family to tell them of the encounter (v. 22-28). Rebekah’s family, upon hearing the servant’s account and recognizing God’s hand in the events, agrees to the marriage proposal. They bless Rebekah, and the servant is invited to stay and eat. However, the servant insists on returning quickly, and after a discussion, Rebekah’s family agrees to let her go (v. 29-49).

Rebekah is asked if she is willing to go with the servant, and she agrees to leave immediately. The family blesses her, and she departs with the servant and his companions (v. 50-61). Isaac, who had been meditating in the fields, meets Rebekah as she approaches. When she learns that it is Isaac, she covers her face with a veil. The servant recounts everything that has happened, and Isaac takes Rebekah as his wife. Isaac finds comfort in her after the death of his mother, Sarah (v. 62-67).

This chapter illustrates how God works through the obedience and faith of His people to bring about His purposes, emphasizing the importance of prayer, trust, and commitment in following God’s will. Just as the servant sought God’s guidance for a significant decision, we should also seek God’s direction in our lives, trusting that He will lead us in His perfect timing and plan. Both the servant and Rebekah demonstrated obedience to God, and their faithfulness led to blessings and fulfillment of God’s promises. We can trust that when we obey God’s leading, His plans for us are always for good.