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BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TESTED OFFERED UP
ISAAC: Pistei prosenenochen (3SRAI) Abraam ton Isaak peirazomenos (PPPMSN):
(Genesis
22:1-12;
James 2:21-24)
(Deuteronomy
8:2;
2 Chronicles 32:31;
Job 1:11,12;
2:3-6;
Proverbs 17:3;
Daniel 11:35;
Zechariah 13:9;
Malachi 3:2,3;
James 1:2-4;
5:11;
1 Peter 1:6,7;
4:12;
Revelation 3:10)
(2 Corinthians
8:12)
This is the third illustration of
Abraham’s faith in Hebrews 11 (Verse 8 = "by faith...when he was called" and
Verse 9ff = "By faith he lived as an alien...")
Dwight Pentecost commenting on
Abraham's faith and obedience exemplified in Hebrews 11:17-19 writes that...
Our faith is often tested most when our
present circumstances seem completely contrary to what God has revealed to
us through His Word. That is precisely the situation Abraham faced, and yet
he did not succumb to “doubting in the dark what God told him in the light.”
Instead, he lived his life in accordance with what God had said. (Pentecost,
J. D., & Durham, K.. Faith that Endures: A Practical Commentary on the Book
of Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publication)
Remember the
context
and flow of this letter of exhortation to
those Hebrews who were being afflicted with various tribulations, which
undoubtedly tempted some consider turning back to the Old Covenant ways of
worshiping God. The writer of Hebrews is presenting the OT truths of the
faith-life, so that their faith might be encouraged. In a parallel passage
Paul emphasized the value of the OT Scriptures to encourage perseverance to
to the end writing that...
whatever was written in earlier times was
written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement
of the Scriptures we might have hope. (see note
Romans 15:4)
In Hebrews 11, the great “Faith”
chapter, it is interesting to observe that Hebrews 11:1 tells us what faith
is and the other 39 verses demonstrate what real faith accomplishes or what
genuine faith looks like in everyday life.
The offering of Isaac, after years of
waiting for the promise of this son, was Abraham’s ultimate test of faith,
and is often stressed in Jewish sources, these sources regarding this a
model of faith to be emulated. It is fascinating to see how near these
Jewish sources come to the truth without grasping the whole truth about
Abraham's faith in the Messiah. In one source the Rabbis taught that Abraham
faithfully withstood ten temptations (not clearly a Biblical conclusion), of which the
call to offer up his only son was the greatest (M Avoth 5:3). The Midrash Rabbah on Numbers (XVII.2)
records a non-biblical narrative stating that when God's test of Abraham
regarding
Isaac was completed, Abraham asked God never to put him to any test again,
because it almost destroyed him (there is no record of this in Scripture).
Morris comments as do others
that...
Abraham's offer of Isaac can be taken as
a thrilling type of God offering His only begotten Son. (Morris,
Henry: Defenders Study Bible. World Publishing)
Certainly one cannot read the story of
Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac without thinking of passages like...
He who did not spare His own Son, but
delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us
all things? (see note
Romans 8:32)
John MacArthur entitles his
comments on this section of Hebrews 11 "The Proof of Faith"
writing that...
The proof of Abraham’s faith was his
willingness to give back to God everything he had, including the son of
promise, whom he had miraculously received because of his faith. After all
the waiting and wondering, the son had been given by God. Then, before the
son was grown, God asked for him back, and Abraham obeyed. Abraham knew that
the covenant, which could only be fulfilled through Isaac, was
unconditional. He knew, therefore, that God would do whatever was necessary,
including raising Isaac from the dead, to keep His covenant... If Noah
illustrates the duration of faith, Abraham shows the depth of faith. (MacArthur,
John: Hebrews. Moody Press)
Faith (4102)
(pistis)
(Click
word study on
pistis)
is synonymous with trust or belief and is the
conviction of the truth of anything, but in Scripture usually speaks of
belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally
with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined
with it. Note that this discussion of pistis is only an overview and not a
detailed treatise of this vitally important subject. Those interested are
directed to respected, conservative books on systematic theology for more in
depth discussion (eg, Dr Wayne Grudem's book
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical
Doctrine
is an excellent, uncompromising, imminently readable resource for the lay
person. See especially Chapter 35 which addresses the question "What is
saving faith?" in an easy to understand manner.) Much of this "definition"
deals with the general word group for faith (pistis = noun, pistos
= adjective, pisteuo = verb)
The great theologian John Calvin defined
faith as
“a steady and certain
knowledge
of the Divine benevolence towards us, which, being founded on the truth of
the gratuitous promise in Christ, is both revealed to our minds, and
confirmed to our hearts, by the Holy Spirit.”
Note that faith is founded on divine truth
(God’s promise) and is witnessed to by the Spirit in the heart. It has both
objective and subjective aspects, and both are essential!
As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction that God exists and is
the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the Provider and Bestower of
eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates to Christ it represents a
strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through
Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of
Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through
belief in Jesus Christ and no other way.
Forsaking All I
Take Him
Acrostic: F-A-I-T-H
Wayne Grudem defines faith that saves one's soul...
Saving faith is trust in Jesus
Christ as a living person for forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with
God. This definition emphasizes that saving faith is not just a belief in
facts but personal trust in Jesus to save me... The definition emphasizes
personal trust in Christ, not just belief in facts about Christ. Because
saving faith in Scripture involves this personal trust, the word “trust” is
a better word to use in contemporary culture than the word “faith” or
“belief.” The reason is that we can “believe” something to be true with no
personal commitment or dependence involved in it. (Grudem,
W. A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine Zondervan)
(Bolding added)
"By faith" - Abraham’s faith
produced immediate, unhesitating obedience. His faith was demonstrated by his works. Faith
alone saves but the faith that saves is not alone. Faith shows itself to be
genuine by obedience. To obey is better than sacrifice.
Abraham (11)
(abraam) (see
dictionary article)
Here is the test in God gave
Abraham in Genesis 22 - God declared...
"Take now your son, your only son,
whom you love (first use of "love" in the OT!), 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." (Genesis
22:2)
Hughes comments...
There was no arguing with God, no
bargaining, no equivocating. Abraham had learned well from the lessons of
life—for example, his own wasted sojourn in Haran, or the unforgettable
tragedy of Lot’s wife. Therefore, his obedience was immediate and explicit.
Though every fiber of his natural being rebelled against what God was
calling him to do, though his feet felt like lead, he did not turn aside.
What amazing faith!...No wonder he is the father of all who believe. No
wonder he is called the friend of God. (Hughes,
R. K. Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, Ill:
Crossway Books)
The fourth stanza (below) of one of the
grand old hymns,
Trust and Obey,
captures the essence of Abraham's sacrifice
Trust and Obey
1
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. - Refrain
3
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we
share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. - Refrain
4
But we never can prove the delights of
His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
- Refrain
(play)
Tested (3985)
(peirazo
from the noun peira = test from peíro =
perforate, pierce through to test durability of things) is a morally neutral
word simply meaning “to test”. Whether the test is for a good (as it
proved to be in Heb 11:17) or evil (Mt 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil") depends on
the intent of the one giving the test and also on the response of the one
tested. (See study of similar word
dokimazo)
Peirazo here in Hebrews 11:17 is
in the
present tense
("continually tested") which
indicates the test was ongoing. It began with God's command in Genesis
22:1-2, continued as he walked with Isaac to Moriah and culminated when God
told him not to drop the sword on Isaac.
Peirazo is used 40 times (Matthew
6x;
Mark 4x;
Luke 2x;
John 2x;
Acts 5x;
1 Corinthians 3x;
2 Corinthians;
Galatians;
1 Thessalonians;
Hebrews 5x;
James 2x;
Revelation 3x)
and is translated in KJV as "assay, 1; examine, 1; go about, 1; prove, 1;
tempt, 29; tempter, 2; try, 4 and in the NAS (40) as "did, 1; put, 1; put to
the test, 2; tempt, 2; tempted, 13; tempter, 2; test, 6; tested, 2; testing,
7; tried, 2; trying, 2"
Peirazo can have several nuances depending on the
context:
(1) trials with a beneficial purpose and effect, (2) divinely permitted or
sent, (3) with a good or neutral significance, (4) of a varied character,
(5) definitely designed to lead to wrong doing, temptation, (6) of men
trying or challenging God.
The trials may come from God or under
His permissive will from Satan, or may be the result of our own wrong doing.
The solicitations to do evil come from the world, the evil nature (the
"flesh"), or the
Devil.
When the Scriptural context clearly indicates the testing is an enticement
to evil, the word is most frequently translated by a form of the English
tempt, which carries that negative connotation and this NEVER refers to a
test from God.
Swanson summarizes the meaning
of peirazo as falling into one five general categories (modified from
Swanson, J. Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains):
(1) To examine, submit another to a test,
to learn the true nature or character of. To endeavor to discover the nature
or character of something by testing. (2Co 13:5, 1Cor 10:13)
This use can refer to a trial of God by humans, the intent being to put
God to the test, to discover whether God really can do a certain thing.
(2) To try to trap through a process of
inquiry. To attempt to catch in a mistake (Mt 16:1)
(3) To tempt, test for purposes of making
one sin (Mk 1:13)
(4) To attempt, try to do something,
implying not succeeding at the endeavor. (Acts 9:26)
(5) The Tempter. (Mt 4:3)
In a sermon titled "Faith
Tested and Crowned" (on
Genesis 22:1-14)
the able expositor Alexander Maclaren distinguished between being tempted and being
tried writing that
the former word conveys the idea of
appealing to the worst part of man, with the wish that he may yield and do
the wrong. The latter means an appeal to the better part of man, with the
desire that he should stand." "Temptation says, 'Do this pleasant thing; do
not be hindered by the fact that it is wrong.' Trial or proving says, 'Do
this right and noble thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is
painful.'
Satan tempts us to bring out the worst
in us; God tests us to bring out the best.
Character is revealed by what
you do in secret, when no one else is around to see. If you are not a person
of integrity then you will not be a person of character. Maturity is
revealed by what you do in your free time. A person of integrity uses their
free time wisely.
Abraham again proved his faith by his willingness to give back to God his
son of promise, Isaac, whom he had miraculously received because of his
faith. It would take an even greater miracle for them to replace Isaac by
natural means. He trusted God for a resurrection.
The testing of one's faith/obedience was
not unique to Abraham...
(Moses warning Israel) And you shall
remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness
these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know
what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or
not. (Deuteronomy
8:2)
(Speaking of King Hezekiah) And even in
the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to
inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only
to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:31)
Comment: King Hezekiah acted
foolishly and in pride showed the Babylonian envoys his treasures, arousing
their desire to possess them, a desire that would soon be fulfilled. See 2Ki
20:12-19.
The refining pot is for silver and the
furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts. (Proverbs 17:3)
The point that is emphasized in these
verses on testing is that with the tests God provides opportunities
for His children to demonstrate and grow their faith. In fact it is fair to
state that every test the Father allows becomes either a stumbling block
(King Hezekiah) or a stepping stone (as in Abraham's case in this
passage).
Jonathan Edwards wrote that...
The surest way to know our gold is to
look upon it and examine it in God’s furnace, where He tries it for that end
that we may see what it is. If we have a mind to know whether a building
stands strong or no, we must look upon it when the wind blows. If we would
know whether that which appears in the form of wheat has the real substance
of wheat, or be only chaff, we must observe it when it is winnowed. If we
would know whether a staff be strong, or a rotten, broken reed, we must see
it when it is leaned on, and weight is borne upon it. If we would weigh
ourselves justly, we must weigh ourselves in God’s scales, that He makes use
of to weigh us.
Offered up (4374)
(prosphero from prós = toward + phéro = bring)
literally means to bring toward and so refers to
an offering, whether of gifts, prayers, or sacrifices. The
Septuagint (LXX)
uses this word 124 times and often in the context of a sacrificial offering (more
than 50 times in Leviticus alone!).
The picture of this verb is to carry or bring something into the presence of
someone usually implying that what is brought is then transferred to the one
to whom it is brought. Abraham was offering up that which was most precious
to him, his son of promise, through whom the covenant blessings given to
Abraham were to flow.
The
perfect tense
when considered from the perspective of Abraham’s intention to comply with
the solemn command views the sacrifice as an accomplished and perfectly
accepted event.
A T Robertson
explains the
perfect tense
writing that...
The act was already consummated so far as
Abraham was concerned when it was interrupted and it stands on record about
him. (Word Pictures)
Kent
Hughes helps understand making an interesting
comment noting that Abraham...
"really did “sacrifice” Isaac. The
Greek perfect tense is used when the text says that he “offered Isaac as a
sacrifice”—and the
perfect tense
refers to a completed action in past time. This means that the sacrifice
actually took place as far as Abraham’s resolve and obedience were
concerned. From the divine perspective, as well as from Abraham’s
perspective, Abraham did it! But immediately the same verb is used in
the imperfect tense in the following statement—he “was about to sacrifice
his one and only son”—indicating that it did not physically happen. The
point is, in terms of obedience to God, Abraham did it. He completely
offered his beloved Isaac, the laughter and joy of his life. (Hughes,
R. K. Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul. Preaching the Word. Wheaton, Ill:
Crossway Books) (Bolding added)
Dwight Pentecost comments on the
offering noting that...
Since Isaac was set apart to be a burnt
offering (Lev. 1:1–17), he was being offered not in atonement for some sin,
but as an act of worship to God. And the obedience of Abraham was itself
acceptable worship. Thus, based on the life of Abraham, the writer desires
that his readers should “imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12) and show the same patient endurance and
obedience that their faith ought to produce. (Pentecost,
J. D., & Durham, K.. Faith that Endures: A Practical Commentary on the Book
of Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publication)
AND HE WHO HAD RECEIVED THE PROMISES WAS OFFERING UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN
SON:
kai ton monogene prosepheren (3SIAI) o tas epaggelias anadexamenos (AMPMSN):
(Genesis
22:2,16)
Received (324)
(anadechomai from aná = an emphatic + déchomai =
receive kindly, accept deliberately and readily) means to receive kindly as one would receive a guest
and so to entertain (see below). It means to experience something by being
accepting. It was used in secular writings to describe one taking a burden
upon himself.
Received suggests more than a
passive attitude, instead indicating a willingness to take what God offered.
Wescott writes that anadechomai
is an unusual word and...
The idea which it suggests here seems to
be that of welcoming and cherishing a divine charge which involved a noble
responsibility. The word is used frequently of undertaking that which calls
out effort and endurance (Wescott, B F: The Epistle to the Hebrews the Greek
text with Notes and Essays. 1903)
Thayer writes that it was used "from Homer down; to take up, take
upon oneself, undertake, assume; hence, to receive, entertain anyone
hospitably. Anadechomai implies the
seizing or laying hold upon that which is presented.
In the only other NT use (none in
LXX),
Acts 28:7, anadechomai means to receive hospitably. The promises (1860)
(epaggelia from the verb epaggello = announce upon or engage to do something
in turn from epí = intensities meaning + aggéllo = tell,
declare) in secular Greek was used primarily as a legal term denoting summons
and in Scripture refers to a promise to do or give something. It refers only
to the promises of God (except Acts 23:21). Epaggelia is a gift graciously given
and is not a pledge secured by negotiation. God's promise to Abraham was
that Isaac would establish the guaranteed posterity.
Elsewhere the writer of Hebrews
exhorts his readers...
that you may not be sluggish, but
imitators (mimetes = one who does what others do, especially the
patriarchs like Abraham) of those who through faith and patience inherit
the promises. For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He
could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "I WILL SURELY
BLESS YOU, AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." And thus, having patiently
waited, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews
6:12-15) Offering up (4374)
(prosphero from prós = toward + phéro = bring)
means to offer gifts, prayers, or sacrifices. (see the above comment on
prosphero). This use of prosphero is in the
imperfect tense,
showing that the sacrifice was not in fact completed but was ongoing; i.e.,
Abraham was in the midst of carrying out the sacrifice.
Net Bible Notes explains the
imperfect tense
this way...
The tense of this verb indicates the
attempt or readiness to sacrifice Isaac without the actual completion of the
deed. (NET
Bible)
Abraham's willingness to offer up Isaac
proved his faith, because the final standard of faith and its real proof is
the willingness to sacrifice. This is an interesting thought to ponder
especially in light of Paul's exhortation to believer's regarding their
bodies (which of course includes their minds, their wills, their members) in
Romans 12...
I
urge (1PAI)
you,
therefore
brethren,
by the
mercies of
God,
to
present
(AAN)
your
bodies a
living (PAP)
&
holy
sacrifice,
acceptable to
God,
which is your
spiritual
service of worship.
(in this verse
hold pointer over words in blue for short definition. See also the main notes
Romans 12:1)
Abraham’s obedience
Demonstrated his faith.
James uses Abraham's OT example to
teach about genuine faith, asking the rhetorical
question...
Was not Abraham our father
justified
(here justified means shown to be righteous not declared righteous -
dikaioo is
used this same way in
Romans 3:4
[see
note] of God Who clearly did not need to be
"declared righteous") by works, when he
offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22
You see that
faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works,
faith
was perfected (aorist
tense = a definite
event, a completed actions. Faith was brought to its intended goal, accomplished the end God
intended see related word
teleios) 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled
which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD (here James clearly reiterates what
"saved" Abraham - it was not his works but his faith in the promises of God,
ultimately consummated in Abraham's "seed", Christ Jesus, cf Gal 3:16), AND IT
WAS
RECKONED
(placed on Abraham's "spiritual account" so to speak) TO HIM AS
RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man
is
justified
(shown to be righteous) by works, and not by
faith
alone (James is not saying that works
save anyone but he is teaching that one's "works" are a valid marker of
whether or not their faith is genuine faith, faith that saves them. In other words
faith alone saves but the faith that truly saves is not alone) Only begotten (3439)
(monogenes from mónos = only + génos = offspring,
posterity from verb gínomai = come into existence) means
only begotten, unique, one of a kind or one and only. The word "son"
is not in the Greek text so literally this reads "the only begotten". Isaac was not
literally the
only son of Abraham—there was also
Ishmael through Hagar
(Ge 16:1-16) but Isaac was the "unique" son that God had promised and whose
birth was a supernatural fulfillment of Jehovah's promise. The writer
of Hebrews proceeds to quote from Genesis
22:12 (see
notes) to prove the
point that Isaac was the unique son of Abraham for through Isaac's seed
must
pass the promises of the Abrahamic covenant, not through the seed of
Abraham's other son
Ishmael.
In addition Abraham by Keturah had six more sons named in Genesis 25:1-2.
John writes that
"the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory
as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn 1:14)
"For God so loved the world, that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life." (John 3:16)
In Our Daily Bread we read the
devotional entitled "Unlikely Heroes"...
The Lord makes heroes out of very
unlikely people. One such person is Angie Garber. She was born with a severe
facial deformity. The surgery to correct her appearance left her deaf in one
ear.
In her teens, Angie contracted polio. She survived, but after months of
agonizing therapy and exercise her left leg and arm remained weak. During
this difficult time her mother became ill. Angie and one of her sisters
cared for their mom till she died.
Her brother George, who had done more to encourage Angie than any other
person, died in an accident. And then crop failure made it necessary to sell
the family farm.
But through it all, Angie kept praying that she could someday serve the Lord
as a missionary-teacher. God honored her desire, and about 5 years after her
mother's death Angie began her life's work as a teacher for the Navajo
Mission. She became such an effective Christian worker that two books have
been written about her. Today her happy face reflects her inner joy. Angie
faced incredible obstacles in her walk of faith. Yet, like the heroes of
faith listed in Hebrews 11, she continued to trust God.
If you're discouraged and feel like giving up, remember, God makes spiritual
heroes out of unlikely people. --HVL (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
All God's testings have a purpose--
Someday you will see the light;
All He asks is that you trust Him,
Walk by faith and not by sight. --Zoller
Suffering can prepare ordinary Christians for extraordinary service. |
