Abraham – our father The big Test!

Abraham – our fatherThe big Test! Achieved? Merit? Excellence? Did he pass? Wouldwe?

He came a long way this guy!

Put it in context:

Or clearer still:

A quick overview of his journey: • A journey to a new and promised country (via an African route - Egypt) • Promise to have descendants as numerous as the stars • Produces a child through a slave girl (Ishmael) • Eventually has Isaac (while pretty ancient!) • Things are going quite nicely I suppose… • God decides to test him!

The test: “Let’s go up the mountain son…. To worship God…”

This was no joke • People did sacrifice children • Abraham went on a long journey • It took a while to climb the mountain • He deliberately chopped wood – gave him time to think

Testing verses temptation: There is a difference! • 1Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. • James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone • DIFFICULT as the same word is used in the OT

The Lord’s prayer adds to the confusion: • Traditional version: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” • Modern Version: “Save us from the time of trial.” (testing?) • NIV: “And lead us not into temptation.” Luke 11:4 • NRSV: “And do not bring us to the time of trial.” L 11:4 • Jesus’ version: και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμονἀλλὰ ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ τοῦ πονηροῦMatthew 6:13

Temptation and testing: • Jesus in English: “And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.” • Rejoice in trials: • James 1:2 - 4 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials (πειρασμοις) of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

What is the difference in outcome and purpose? • The tempter (Satan – the accuser) tempts us in order that we may fail! • God tests us in order that we may succeed! • Believe it or not teachers actually want us to succeed too (hence the endless tests at school – now called “assessment”). • God tested his people for various good reasons as we will see. In the passage above it is for endurance, maturity and growth!

So what did O.T. testing achieve? Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. (obedience test) • Deuteronomy 8:2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (heart test) • Genesis 22:1 “Some time later God tested Abraham.” Why? Genesis 22:12 “Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (fearing God test)

Abraham’s test - maybe it’s simple: • This was the only worship that he knew: a sacrifice, in this case a burnt offering • His son was being tested too - total trust in his father

The New Testament perspective:He was man of faith Hebrews 11:17-19 • By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.“ • Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

Abraham’s amazing faith: Romans 4:1-3 • What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? • If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. • What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.“ • His whole life is a saga of incredible faith!

How are we tested? The Gospel reading today asks some questions of us too: Matthew 10:37-39 • "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; • and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. • Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. These are also about sacrificial living!!

Some questions for us todayabout the extent of our love and trust: • How much to we love the Lord? • Is Jesus at the centre of our lives – ahead of our relatives? (does that even make sense?) • Do we love our children more than the Lord? Or the other way round? (if you have children…) • And are we prepared to take our cross and follow Jesus? • What does it mean to lose your life for his sake – in order to find it? • What is the most important thing in life to us? • How would we fare if the Lord asked us to sacrifice that important thing – a precious thing?

Which way do you look for help? • Abraham looked up towards the challenge he had to face! He knew how to look up as he trudged towards a challenge! • He kept looking up – and saw the solution! • Are you being tested? Understand what it is that is happening. • Rather be equipped before you face trials. Grow your faith! • James 1:2 - 4 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

Abraham – our father The big Test!